Strengthening rural and environmental tourism between private and public sectors and local communities

The Nature Conservation Center at the American University of Beirut organized last week a ceremony to distribute the prizes of the “my community, my environment” project which seeks to preserve biodiversity in Lebanese villages. The Ceremony was held in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and under the auspices of the general directorate of departments and local councils at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities.  Certificates were distributed to some 52 villages participating in the project, where Ehden received the prize for the most sustainable administration of highlands and Moukhtara that of most sustainable administration of river banks. For its part, Bentaa3el, received the prize for local collaboration for the preservation of natural heritage and Beshara Salameh received a prize for his pioneer environmental administration for running a sustainable camp in the village of Chah7toul.

The Minister of Tourism, Michel Pharaon noted in his speech that the partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and the Nature Conservation Center is within the framework of the Ministry’s current concern to develop rural tourism in Lebanon as this sector carries an added value which distinguishes Lebanon from neighboring countries.  Pharaon added that the Ministry is currently working to develop touristic packages for youth costing less than USD 1000 through profiling villages, eco-hostels and rural tourism whilst making use of studies carried out by civil society of key touristic landmarks.  Pharaon concluded by saying that the Ministry is also working on studies about the best tourism packages that are likely to succeed in Lebanon namely week-end holidays for Lebanese residing in Lebanon as well as families and religious holidays.

Source: Al-Diyar 13 October 2014