Editing Beirut (section)

===Tourism===
Beirut was named the top place to visit by ''[[The New York Times]]'' in 2009,<ref name="NYTimes.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/11/travel/20090111_DESTINATIONS.html |title=The 44 Places to Go in 2009 – Interactive Graphic |location=Beirut (Lebanon);Washington (DC);Galápagos Islands;Berlin (Germany);Las Vegas (Nev);Hawaii;Vienna (Austria);Doha (Qatar);Dakar (Senegal);Phuket (Thailand);Chicago (Ill);Dallas (Tex);Bhutan;Florida Keys;Rome (Italy);Cuba;Penang (Malaysia);Seychelles Islands;Florianopolis (Brazil);Copenhagen (Denmark);Monument Valley;Great Britain;Cologne (Germany);Reykjavík (Iceland);Red Sea;Egypt;Deauville (France);South Africa;India;Kazakhstan;Buffalo (NY);Madagascar;Tasmania (Australia);Stockholm (Sweden);Alaska;Pennsylvania;Zambia |work=The New York Times |date=11 January 2009 |first1=Zach |last1=Wise |first2=Miki |last2=Meek/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422182843/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/11/travel/20090111_DESTINATIONS.html |archive-date=22 April 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009}}</ref> and as one of the ten liveliest cities in the world by [[Lonely Planet]] in the same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/lebanon/beirut |title=Beirut Travel Information and Travel Guide&nbsp;– Lebanon |publisher=Lonely Planet |date=24 March 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524052809/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/lebanon/beirut |archive-date=24 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to a 2010 study by the American global consulting firm [[Mercer (consulting firm)|Mercer]] comparing high-end items such as upscale residential areas and entertainment venues, Beirut was ranked as the 4th most expensive city in the [[Middle East]] and 15th among the [[List of countries by GNI (nominal, Atlas method) per capita|Upper Middle Income Countries]] included in the survey.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2011/Jul-18/Beirut-ranked-4th-most-expensive-Mideast-city.ashx#axzz2OabZIz8Z |title=Beirut ranked 4th most expensive Mideast city |journal=The Daily Star |date=18 July 2011 |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-date=20 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620155444/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2011/Jul-18/Beirut-ranked-4th-most-expensive-Mideast-city.ashx#axzz2OabZIz8Z }}</ref> Beirut came in first place regionally and 10th place internationally in a 2010 study by "EuroCost International" about the rental markets for high quality housing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beirutnightlife.com/news/beirut-no-1-expensive-city-in-the-middle-east/ |title=Beirut No. 1 expensive city in the Middle East |work=Beirutnightlife.com |date=24 September 2010 |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-date=31 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031220058/http://www.beirutnightlife.com/news/beirut-no-1-expensive-city-in-the-middle-east/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurocost.com/en/rent_world_2010.html |title=Worldwide expats rent prices ranking 2010 |work=Eurocost.com |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-date=11 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211110313/http://www.eurocost.com/en/rent_world_2010.html }}</ref> Beirut is an international hub of highly active and diverse [[nightlife]] with [[Bar (establishment)|bars]], dance bars and [[nightclub]]s staying open well past midnight.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the961.com/beirut-looks-like-a-ghost-town/ |title=Beirut That Never Sleeps Has Now Another Story to Tell (PHOTOS) |date=29 June 2015 |publisher=The961 |access-date=14 February 2022 |archive-date=6 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206174742/https://www.the961.com/beirut-looks-like-a-ghost-town/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/travel-blog/beirut-city-the-real-city-that-never-sleeps |title=Beirut City: The Real City That Never Sleeps |date=29 June 2015 |publisher=Original Travel |access-date=14 February 2022 |archive-date=6 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206173923/https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/travel-blog/beirut-city-the-real-city-that-never-sleeps |url-status=live }}</ref>
The 2011 MasterCard Index revealed that Beirut had the second-highest visitor spending levels in the [[Middle East]] and [[Africa]], totaling $6.5&nbsp;billion.<ref name="dailystar.com.lb">{{cite journal |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2011/Jun-20/Beirut-ranks-second-for-visitor-spending-in-region.ashx#axzz1qrXPMv2b |title=Beirut ranks second for visitor spending in region {{!}} Business, Lebanon |journal=The Daily Star |date=20 June 2011 |access-date=18 December 2012 |archive-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723135333/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2011/Jun-20/Beirut-ranks-second-for-visitor-spending-in-region.ashx#axzz1qrXPMv2b }}</ref> Beirut was chosen in 2012 by [[Condé Nast Traveller]] as the best city in the [[Middle East]].<ref name="Cntraveler.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.cntraveler.com/readers-choice-awards/africa-middle-east/top-5-cities-middle-east#slide=1 |title=Middle East: Top 5 Cities: Readers' Choice Awards |work=Condé Nast Traveler |date=16 October 2012 |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203134849/http://www.cntraveler.com/readers-choice-awards/africa-middle-east/top-5-cities-middle-east |archive-date=3 February 2013}}</ref> In 2013, Condé Nast Traveller ranked Beirut in the top 20 best cities in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cntraveler.com/readers-choice-awards/best-cities-world_slideshow_20-Seville_6 |title=Top 25 Cities in the World |work=Condé Nast Travler |date=November 2013 |access-date=7 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222062045/http://www.cntraveler.com/readers-choice-awards/best-cities-world_slideshow_20-Seville_6 |archive-date=22 February 2014}}</ref>

On 7 December 2014, Beirut was selected to be among the [[New7WondersCities|New 7 Wonders of Cities]], along with [[Doha]], [[Durban]], [[La Paz]], [[Havana]], [[Kuala Lumpur]] and [[Vigan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://world.new7wonders.com/2014/12/07/new7wonders-cities/ |title=And the New7Wonders Cities are... |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=11 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511210237/http://world.new7wonders.com/2014/12/07/new7wonders-cities/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The campaign was held by New 7 Wonders.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.new7wonders.com/ |title=New7Wonders |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=25 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525102950/https://new7wonders.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016, Yahoo listed Beirut as the best international city for food.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/style/best-international-cities-food-162605431/photo-p-lebanons-capital-city-beirut-photo-162929793.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw |title=The Best International Cities for Food |date=12 August 2016 |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=18 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918071524/https://www.yahoo.com/style/best-international-cities-food-162605431/photo-p-lebanons-capital-city-beirut-photo-162929793.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw }}</ref> Travel and Leisure ranked Beirut in the top 15 of the world's best cities.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2016/Jul-12/361592-beirut-defies-all-odds-as-one-of-worlds-best-cities.ashx |title=Beirut ranked as one of world's best cities |journal=The Daily Star |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=16 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816233700/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2016/Jul-12/361592-beirut-defies-all-odds-as-one-of-worlds-best-cities.ashx |url-status=live }}</ref>

It was voted the must-visit city for the year 2019 by World Tourists.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

Due to anti-government protests as of October 2019 followed by dire economic situation and travel bans due to coronavirus outbreak, the tourism sector was badly affected resulting in decrease of number of tourists.