Special report: Israel-Lebanon Conflicts   [ Video ][Gallery]

Special report: Israel, Lebanon agree on ceasefire    

    BEIRUT, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The 34-day-long Israel-Hezbollah conflict cost the hotels in Lebanon an estimated loss of 83.875 million U.S. dollars as direct result of reservation cancellation, said the head of tourist establishments Amein Khayat on Thursday.

    The nearly-84-million-dollars loss in hotel sector was a direct result for cancellation of reservation in the period of two months from July 15 to Sept. 15, Khayat told a press conference in the capital.

    He further explained that prior to the Israeli offensive in southern Lebanon, hotel sector's income was estimated to exceed any season for years.

    "Instead of receiving one million tourists we had one million Lebanese refugees," he added.

    The Israel-Hezbollah conflict has completely ruined this sector financially, Khayat said.

    Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah started their over-month-long fighting on July 12 after two Israeli soldiers were captured and eight others killed by Hezbollah in cross-border raids.

    Over 1,000 Lebanese and 157 Israelis have been killed in the conflict in addition to huge property damages and economic losses of both sides.

    The conflict came to a cease-fire on Aug. 14 thanks to the UN Resolution 1701. Enditem