NNA -  Lebanon’s Ministry of Information and Comin Insurance on Monday launched a new national initiative offering free insurance coverage to Arab and foreign visitors arriving in Lebanon, in a move aimed at strengthening confidence in Lebanon and supporting economic and investment activity.

The announcement was made during a seminar held at the Ministry of Information in Sanayeh, attended by Minister of Information Dr. Paul Morcos, and Chairman and General Manager of Comin Insurance, Roger Zakkar, along with scores of representatives from Lebanese, Arab, and foreign media outlets. The details of the initiative and the mechanism enabling visitors to benefit from insurance coverage throughout their stay in Lebanon were presented during the seminar.

In his delivered word, Minister Morcos praised "the initiative and the role the private sector can play alongside state institutions in promoting Lebanon’s image and restoring confidence in the country, stressing "the importance of every project that contributes to stimulating the economy and investment, boosting visitor flows, and presenting a positive image of Lebanon both at home and abroad."

Morcos noted that "this is not the first time the company has taken the initiative to support national institutions," pointing out that it "has contributed, and continues to contribute, to providing insurance coverage for Télé Liban’s outside broadcast trucks and equipment."

Morcos said: "This initiative sends a message of confidence in Lebanon and underscores the importance of partnership between the public and private sectors."

The Minister added that "providing greater reassurance to Arab and foreign visitors constitutes an added value to efforts aimed at strengthening Lebanon’s position as a destination that welcomes its visitors," stressing that "the media is a key partner in conveying this image to the world."

For his part, Zakkar said that "the project stemmed from a simple question the company asked itself: "What can we do at this stage to stand by our country, support the tourism season, and encourage people to come to Lebanon?"

Zakkar explained that "any foreign visitor arriving in Lebanon will be able to benefit from the initiative by downloading the Comin app, entering the required information, and using the designated promo code to immediately obtain insurance coverage for the duration of their stay in Lebanon, in accordance with the project’s mechanism and terms."

Zakkar stressed that "the initiative goes beyond the concept of an insurance policy," saying: "This initiative is not merely an insurance policy; it is a message of confidence. We believe in our country, and we believe Lebanon deserves to remain a tourist destination for Arabs and people from around the world."

 He thanked the Ministry of Information and Minister Morcos for "embracing the initiative and contributing to its launch," expressing hope that "the scope of cooperation will be expanded to include other ministries and public institutions, foremost among them the Ministries of Tourism and Foreign Affairs, in addition to various media outlets, on the basis that supporting Lebanon and its tourism sector is a shared responsibility."

In this context, Zakkar called on Middle East Airlines (MEA), Lebanon’s national carrier, "to contribute to promoting the initiative and incorporating information about it into the ticketing process, allowing travelers to Lebanon to learn about the initiative and benefit from it before their arrival."