Tourism numbers in Lebanon have seen a sharp rise in the first 10 months of the year. The Lebanese tourism ministry has reported a 42.7% increase compared to the same period in 2008, adding that numbers are up 84% compared to the same period of 2007. More than 1.5 million tourists have visited Lebanon so far this year, with a record one million tourists landing in the country during July alone, the ministry said. The bulk have been expatriates or visitors from the Gulf region. The ministry hopes that by year end, some two million tourists will have visited the country.