May 10, 2006, 14:40 GMT
Beirut - US singer, actress Liza Minnelli and Latin singer Ricky Martin are among the stars taking part in Lebanon's Beiteddine Summer Festival, organizers said Wednesday.
Martin will hold his first concert in the Arab world in Beirut on May 27 at the Biel sea front hall in Beirut, said festival president Noura Jumblatt.
She added that the festival is to start with Martin's concert and end July 16 with a ballet production led by Royal Ballet of London star Sylvie Guillem.
Jumblatt said the festival - usually held at a 19th century palace in Beiteddine south-east of Beirut - is also to host Minnelli's first concert in the Middle East.
Jumblatt added that the festival would feature performances by the percussion group Stomp, African musicians Angelique Kidjo and Cheikh Lo, and jazz saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and blues singer Shimekia Copeland.
Lebanese singer Magida el-Roumi will hold a concert at the festival which is due to close with two days of performances by Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta.
Jumblatt stressed that the organzers are looking forward for a 'great' festival. 'Arab and foreign tourists are already calling in to have the schedule of the festival,' she added.
Despite a traumatic year for Lebanon replete with bomb attacks in 2005, Lebanese Tourism Minister Joe Sarkis said Monday that should the current stability prevail the country could expect a tourism boom in 2006, with the number of tourists reaching a record 1.5 million.
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