News updates

The Minister of Tourism, Michel Pharaon, presented last week in Beit Mery a new project which aims to foster collaboration in rural tourism as a precursor to the launch of the strategy of rural tourism which was developed with the Lebanon Industry Value Chain Development (LIVCD), which is funded by USAID, and Beyond Beirut and following consultation with 150 stakeholders in rural tourism.
Pharaon noted that this new initiative should be accompanied by the Ministry of Environment to ensure its success.  He added that the next step will be the creation of a joint national committee for rural development which will include the Minister of Tourism, representatives of civil society organisations, media representatives as well as those who are responsible for promoting this project.  The purpose is to work towards improving rural hostels which are 60 hostels scattered in various areas of the country as well as creating new ones so as to reach a total of 200 hostels. The project will also aim to secure income for the state as well as new employment opportunities.  Pharaon insisted on the important role that municipalities should play in profiling touristic sites in their areas.
Martine Bteich presented for her part the national rural tourism strategy especially in terms of strengthening economic opportunities and improving competitiveness of productive sectors.  She noted that the strategy include a number of axis notably developing rural tourism services, collecting and managing data as well as strengthening local and international linkages.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Safir 31 July 2014

The Enfeh Heritage Council organized a two-day training workshop targeting local tourist guides and that in preparation for organizing touristic tours during the Enfeh 2014 summer festivals.  A large number of residents and university students from Enfeh participated in this training.
 
The training included lectures by Dr. Manal Ayoubi, expert in heritage and tourism.  Ayoubi spoke about the main touristic landmarks in the area and to historical importance.  The President of the Council, Rasha Daaboul, presented practical guidelines about the tours which are to be organized and a reconnaissance field visit was undertaken under the guidance of engineer Gergi Sassine.
 
Source: Al-Diyar 31 July 2014

The Hrajel Tourism Festivals will kick off on the 5th of August and will go on until the 15th under the auspices of the Minister of Tourism, Michel Pharaon, and with the concerted efforts of young people and religious authorities of the village.  As usual, this summer festivals, which have served to highlight the region as a tourism landmark, will showcase a number of Lebanese and Arab artists. The programme includes various concerts as well as traditional shows.
Source: Al-Diyar 31 July 2014

The President of the Phalangist Party, MP Amine Gemayel, discussed with the President of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists, Fady Gemayel, and a delegation from the association, the situation of the sector and difficulties it is facing.  The media office of MP Gemayel noted that the discussions dealt with many issues notably making long term loans available for industries as well supporting Lebanese exports.  Discussions also dealt with the idea of creating a one million USD fund per year to support energy cost for industries using intensive energy in addition to supporting research for industrial development, closing illegal Syrian industries which compete with the Lebanese and curtailing smuggling as well as protecting national production.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Safir 25 July 2014

As Safir newspaper published a report about tourism in Dennyeh where owners of various touristic institutions and services are not expecting the summer season of this year to go beyond a few weeks holidays by inhabitants of Tripoli as well as some Lebanese immigrants.  This reflects the general decline of tourism in an area which is unable to capitalise on its natural landmarks such as forests and natural water springs amidst an absence of any national development plan by municipalities and wealthy residents from the region.

The municipal head of Sir el Dennyeh, Ahmad Alam, told As Safir that the main reason for this deterioration is the large number of displaced people from Syria which is affecting the local economy as they rent houses for cheap which could have been rented at higher prices to visitors from the gulf.  In addition, Alam notes that displaced people have limited resources and cannot visit local restaurants which are the cornerstone of the area’s economy.

Source: Al-Safir, Al-Diyar, 24 July 2014

The Mohafazat of Akkar is getting ready to hold a series of festivals and handicrafts exhibitions with a view to boost local tourism in the region as well as change the stereotype on Akkar amongst those who never visited it.  The first event to kick off is the Qobayyat festival which starts on August 15th and will go on till August 17th under the auspices of the Ministries of Culture and Tourism.
The president of the festival’s committee, Cynthia Hobeish, told As Safir newspaper that this move comes after nine months of intensive preparations so as to ensure a high quality event as the committee wanted the kick off to be strong and ensure that the festival can accomodate the 3000 visitors who are expected to visit the festival. For that purpose, the committee prepared a short documentary on Akkar which was posted on the Ministry of Tourism’s website.  Hobeish noted that the festival includes concerts, environmental trips in collaboration with the environmental council in Qobeyyat and which covers some of the nicest landmarks in the area.  The festival also includes touristic, artistic, industrial and handicrafts exhibitions which will showcase local products over three consecutive days.

Source: Al-Safir 24 July 2014

The Minister of Agriculture, Akram Chehayeb, announced yesterday that his Ministry will soon be launching in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Italian Health Ministry a project to strengthen the power and control of veterinary authorities in Lebanon.  This move is within the joint collaboration effort between the above-mentioned parties aiming to control import and export procedures on all frontal points as well as to conform with veterinary legislations in addition to monitoring animal diseases, food safety and lab diagnosis of animals and strengthening joint research.
Within a similar vein, the Chargé d’affaires of the Chamber of Commerce, industry and trade in Tripoli, Toufic Dabboussi, revealed that frozen chicken is being imported and sold as fresh chicken.  He added that this goes against all safety measures in addition to damaging the local poultry production.  The President of the traders and merchants of red meat, poultry and frozen fish, Samih al Masri, noted in a statement that the allegation that frozen chicken is being imported and sold as fresh is totally untrue because imports are controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture,.  He also reiterated that the import of frozen poultry is safe and is subject to lab tests.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Nahar, 24 July 2014

On May 20th, the directorate general of general security announced an opening for women and men to fill the post of second degree trainee inspector and for men only to fill the post of trainee officer.  Interested candidates go through a process of competitive examination. Although the total of the vacant posts was 500 only, a total of 11595 people applied!  Furthermore, some 6261 candidates applied for the post of trainee officer and 5334 people applied to the post of second degree trainee inspector of whom, 3100 were women.  Indeed, the number of women applicants was high and exceeded that of men for the post of second degree trainee inspector.  According to social science expert, Dania Lakkis, this is yet another indication of women stepping out from the boundaries of traditional jobs.  Lakkis also noted that this indicated a change in the old societal mindset which did not accept women presence in the armed forces.  Indeed, the deteriorating economy and the need for women to help their spouses and families financially have all contributed to this shift in mindsets.
For his part, economic expert, Kamel Kalakech, noted that the extremely high number of applicants is an indicator of a poor economy and dearth of employment opportunities.  He added that the absence of political stability and the current insecurity have decresed the size of investments in the country resulting in low employment opportunities.  Thus, new graduates have no option but to revert to government jobs.
Source: Al-Akhbar 23 July 2014

The association of merchants and industrialists of Qabershmoon launched yesterday the first edition of the local shopping summer festival under the auspices of the Minister of Economy and Trade (MoET), Alain Hakim, represented by his advisor, Jassem Ajaka and with the presence of the Minister of Agriculture Akram Chehayeb and other public figures from the region.
Ajaka spoke on behalf of the Minister of Economy and Trade and considered this festival, as all other similar, as principally contributing to promote Lebanon and its tourism.  He stressed the support of his Ministry towards such initiatives which are an important cornerstone of the Lebanese economy and which complement the Ministry’s current plan which aims at stimulating the economy and protecting consumers.  Ajaka insisted on the need to support merchants and underlined the continuous work of the Ministry to protect the commercial sector from competition from foreign workers adding that the trade sector constitute 28% of GDP.  Ajaka concluded by stressing the commitment of all parties in the Cabinet to invest efforts and resources to support the economy, tourism as well as commerce especially during the summer season in addition to promoting a environment conducive for the tourism sector which represents 10% of the GDP.
Source: Al-Diyar 23 July 2014

Khan al Sabun, the traditional soap factory, suffered from recent rumors saying that its products are carcinogenic.  As such, the president of Khan al Sabun, Bader Hassun, called for a press conference the day before yesterday at the press syndicate with the participation of MP Elie Maruni, the president of the industrialists association, Fadi Gemayel, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the North, Tufic Dabbussi, and the responsible of 7Halal company, Mahmud Lababidi as well as other interested individuals. Hassun ascertained that the production of Khan al Sabun enjoys high standards and quality and is entrusted with the ISO and 7Halal seals.  Lababidi endorsed Hassun’s statement and indicated that the Khan el Sabun products are free from animal fat and of any pork derivatives and as such, has gained the 7Halal seal.
MP Maruni spoke of the importance of the industrial and tourism sectors in Lebanon.  He added that Lebanon enjoys industrial handicrafts, namely soap making, which is contributing to raising the visibility of tourism in Lebanon.  Maruni added that the industrial and tourism sectors in Lebanon are now under attack.  He called on all to work in solidarity and with concerted efforts because the industry needs national unity without any confessional or racial consideration.

Source: Al-Diyar 22 July 2014