Hebbariyeh launches tourism festival despite historical public neglect

The southern town of Hebbariyeh launched yesterday its annual tourism festival at the historic temple of Baal Jad bringing together the villages of Arkoob district under the umbrella of the Federation of Municipalities in the area. The event was held in the presence of Walid Barakat, Secretary General of the Lebanese Democratic Party, President of the Federation of Arkoub Municipalities, Mohamad Saab, Commander of UNIFIL’s Indian Battalion, Barta Saha and the representative of the Islamic Group (Jamaa Islamiya) in Hasbaya and Marje3yoon, Wasseem Sweyd. Stressing the need to support and encourage similar activities, Saab said, “Heritage is about memory and in memory there is life.” For his part, President of the Festival Committee, Wael Barakat, boasted the beautiful and historic assets of Hebbariyeh which make it a distinguished destination for rural tourism. However, he added, the governments’ historical neglect to the area has weakened this trait, pointing that the Committee is determined to keep such activities alive. The festival kicked off with a display of the rural products and traditional mooneh items followed by an honoring ceremony for former town chiefs. (Al Mustaqbal, 24 August 2015)