lebanon agriculture and rural empowerment (are) …

This report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the U.S. Agency for

International Development (USAID). The content of this report is the sole responsibility of the Agriculture and Rural

Empowerment (ARE) Activity and does not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the U.S. Government.

LEBANON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL

EMPOWERMENT (ARE) ACTIVITY

SECTOR ANALYSIS

Ecotourism, Agro-tourism, Gastronomy and Wine Tourism

USAID.GOV LEBANON ARE SECTOR ANALYSIS – TOURISM | i

LEBANON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL

EMPOWERMENT (ARE) ACTIVITY

SECTOR ANALYSIS

Ecotourism, Agro-tourism, Gastronomy and Wine Tourism

Program Title: Lebanon Agriculture and Rural Empowerment (ARE) Activity

Sponsoring USAID Office: <<<>>>

Contract Number: <<<>>>

Contractor: Chemonics Beirut SARL

Date of Publication: March 2021

Author: Lebanon ARE project team

Cover photo courtesy: Rami Rizk

USAID.GOV LEBANON ARE SECTOR ANALYSIS – TOURISM | 2

CONTENTS

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 4

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5

I. INTRODUCTION 6

I.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND 6

I.2 OBJECTIVE 6

I.3 METHODOLOGY 6

II. TOURISM SECTOR OVERVIEW 7

II.1 TOURISM CONTRIBUTION TO THE GDP 7

II.2 TOURISM CONTRIBUTION TO EMPLOYMENT 8

II.3 MARKET DYNAMICS 8

II.3.1 International market 8

II.3.2 Domestic market 10

II.3.2 Competitiveness 11

III. RURAL AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM 12

III.1 VALUE CHAIN, TYPOLOGY AND MARKET SEGMENTATION 12

III.1.1 The tourism value chain 12

III.1.2 Tourism market segmentation 14

III.2 LEBANON’S RURAL AND NATURAL LANDSCAPE 15

III.3 RURAL AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM EVOLUTION 17

III.4 RURAL AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS 21

III.4.1 Travel organization and booking 21

III.4.2 Transportation 23

III.4.3 Accommodation 24

III.4.4 Food and beverage 27

III.4.5 Excursions and tours 28

III.4.6 Support institutions 29

III.5 INSTITUTIONAL AND DONORS SUPPORT 34

III.5.1 Policies and strategies 34

III.5.2 Donors assistance 37

III.6 RURAL AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM TYPOLOGY AND ANALYSIS 38

III.6.1 Rural and nature-based tourism types 38

III.6.2 Ecotourism 39

III.6.3 Adventure tourism 54

III.6.4 Agro-tourism 60

III.6.5 Gastronomy and wine tourism 63

III.6.6 Local and regional destinations 68

IV. CHALLENGES, CONSTRAINTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND AREAS OF

INTERVENTION 70

IV.1 RURAL ACCOMODATION AND F&B SERVICES 70

Challenges and opportunities 70

Proposed intervention areas 71


IV.2 ATTRACTIONS, DESTINATIONS AND PRODUCTS 72



IV.3 ECOTOURISM 73



IV.4 ADVENTURE TOURISM 74



IV.5 AGRO-TOURISM 75



IV.6 GASTRONOMY AND WINE TOURISM 76



IV.7 MARKETING AND PROMOTION 77



IV.8 BUSINESS ENABLING ENVIROMENT 78



IV.9 PRIORITIZATION OF INTERVENTIONS 79

IV.10 GLOBAL TOURISM TRENDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COVID-19

ADAPTATION AND RECOVERY 80

ANNEX 1: LIST OF INTERVIEWED STAKEHOLDERS 82

ANNEX 2: MUNICIPALITIES AND UNIONS OF MUNICIPALITIES

ACTIVE IN RURAL AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

AND PROMOTION 83

ANNEX 3: PROTECTED TOURISTIC SITES BY DECISION OF THE

MINISTRY OF TOURISM 84

ANNEX 4: SITES OF NATURAL AND/OR ECOLOGICAL

IMPORTANCE IN NEED FOR PROTECTION IN LEBANON 85

ANNEX 5: LEBANESE WINERIES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS 86

BIBLIOGRPAHY 87


ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

ADR Association du Développement Rural

ATTAL Association of Travel and Tourist Agents in Lebanon

BALADI Building Alliance for Local Advancement, Development & Investment

BRHIA Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport

CAGR Compound Annual Growth Rate

CAS Central Administration of Statistics

CDR Council for Development and Reconstruction

CMF Cedar Mountain Foundation

DMO Destination Management Organization

ECOSOC Economic and Social Council

EY Ernst and Young

F&B Food and Beverage

FBOs Faith-Based Organizations

FHF Food Heritage Foundation

FTL Fair Trade Lebanon

GCC Gulf Cooperation Council

GDP Gross Domestic Product

IDAL Investment Development Authority of Lebanon

INVV Institut National de la Vigne et du Vin

LebHOA Lebanese Hotel Association

LED Lebanon Enterprise Development

LCA Lebanese Climbing Association

LDE Lebanon Diaspora Energy

LIVCD Lebanon Industry Value Chain Development

LMT Lebanon Mountain Trail

LMTA Lebanon Mountain Trail Association

LRI Lebanon Reforestation Initiative

LTE Lebanon Tourism Energy

MEA Middle East Airlines

MICE Meeting, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions

MOT Ministry of Tourism

MSME Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise

NGOs Non-governmental organizations

NTC National Tourism Council

OTAs Online Travel Agencies

PFA Partnership Framework Agreement

RevPAR Revenue Per Available Room

RMF René Moawad Foundation

SME Small and Medium Enterprise

TIF Trade and Investment Facilitation

UNWTO United Nations World Tourism Organization

USAID United States Agency for International Development

USEIL Union of Sustainable and Ecotourism Institutions in Lebanon

UVL Union Vinicole du Liban

VFR Visiting Friends and Relatives

WTTC World Travel & Tourism Council


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report presents findings from a rapid analysis on the current situation of Lebanon’s ecotourism,

adventure tourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism sectors. It lays out their

challenges/constraints, and the potential opportunities/interventions for the Lebanon Agriculture and

Rural Empowerment (ARE) Activity in order to contribute to the recovery, stabilization, and growth

of these tourism types. The analysis employed desk research and interviews with relevant

stakeholders.

With its rich natural and cultural heritage, Lebanon has a wide variety of touristic attractions and

offers multiple forms of tourism including recreational, cultural, religious, rural, nature-based,

gastronomy and wine. In 2019, Lebanon’s tourism sector generated a total of $10.5 billion – 18% of

the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – and employed a direct and indirect workforce of 434,000

employees (19.2% of the total employment).

Hence, the performance of the tourism sector is highly dependent on political stability and security.

The combined crises facing Lebanon since October 2019 — the economic and financial collapse, and

the COVID-19 pandemic — had a severe impact on tourism, resulting in a 77% decrease in

international arrivals in the first five months of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. In

addition to the political instability, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic recession, the major

challenges and constraints hindering tourism development in Lebanon, particularly rural and nature-

based tourism, include:

• Weak value chain integration and stakeholders’ fragmentation

• Absence of specific legal framework

• Absence of categorization, quality control, and certification for niche markets

• Limited skilled labor pool and brain drain

• Absence of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) on the local/regional level

• Lack of data, market information and absence of tourism satellite accounts

• Absence of a national tourism brand and targeted international promotion strategy

Based on the sector value chain and business enabling environmental analysis in this document, a set

of opportunities and areas of intervention were identified to support the recovery, stabilization, and

growth of ecotourism, adventure tourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism. They

include:

• Valorize the natural and cultural heritage and development of thematic tourism itineraries and

routes

• Assist/accompany tourism business associations and selected tourism firms in building/improving

their resilience towards crises and shocks (focusing on COVID-19 adaptation and mitigation

measures and financial crisis)

• Link conventional tourism service providers (large scale) to alternative tourism service providers

• Build regional clusters regrouping key tourism service providers and create territorial brands

• Create an innovative and flexible destination brand for Lebanon based on the new global trends

• Invest in digital marketing and promotion and build brand awareness on the tourism e-

marketplace

• Categorize, standardize and certify rural and nature-based tourism services and activities


I. INTRODUCTION

I.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Agriculture and Rural Empowerment (ARE) Activity aims to develop rural economies in

Lebanon through providing support to the agri-food sector and other industries to unlock local and

export sales’ potential, while also creating jobs and increasing farmers’ and workers’ incomes. The

prioritized agriculture and non-agriculture value chains that ARE targets include: fresh and processed

produce; dairy and fodder; stone fruits; table grapes; wine and arak; ecotourism; agro-tourism; and

gastronomy and wine tourism. The specific objectives of the ARE activity are the following:

1. Increase domestic and export sales

2. Increase access to financial resources

3. Improve the productivity of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

ARE utilizes a facilitative approach based on the theory of market systems development to

incentivize value chain stakeholders in prioritized value chains and sub-sectors to take advantage of

new and emerging opportunities. This aims to increase their potential to grow sales both

internationally and domestically. To implement this approach, ARE identifies through Annual

Program Statements (APS) Champion Firms, which serve as focal points for ARE to address

identified leverage opportunities within supported value chains. ARE co-creates partnerships with

these Champion Firms, resulting in a Partnership Framework Agreement (PFA) that guides the

implementation of joint interventions aiming to unlock opportunities and create the underpinnings

for new growth at the firm, value chain, and sub-sector levels.

As part of this co-creation process, ARE is developing a rural and nature-based tourism sector

analysis with a focus on ecotourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism in consultation

with relevant stakeholders. This aims to identify critical barriers within each sub-sector, potential

solutions, and to outline targeted interventions needed to improve the performance of these sub-

sectors.

I.2 OBJECTIVE

The objective of this report is to assess and analyze the current situation of ecotourism, agro-

tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism in Lebanon, understand the integration of these tourism

types in the tourism value chain and map their key stakeholders, and identify constraints/challenges

and opportunities to be addressed by the ARE activity. The report will also suggest a baseline of

proxy indicators to capture the performance of the concerned tourism types before and after ARE’s

interventions.

I.3 METHODOLOGY

To develop this analysis, the ARE team conducted thorough and in-depth desk research including of

all recent publications, studies, statistics, reports, and articles related to rural tourism with a focus

on ecotourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism. In addition to the secondary review,

the ARE team conducted a participatory appraisal through interviews with 25 organizations and

entities representing key stakeholders and different rural tourism service providers. The interviewed

key informants were asked about the current situation of rural tourism, challenges/constraints,

opportunities of rural tourism in general and prioritized tourism types in particular, and the potential

interventions that might help rural tourism to recover (short term), stabilize (medium term) and

grow (long term), in light of the multiple crises that Lebanon is facing (Annex 1. List of

interviewed stakeholders).


II. TOURISM SECTOR OVERVIEW

Lebanon’s geographic location on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, its moderate climate,

and its rich cultural and natural heritage have contributed to making the country an important

destination for tourism in the region. The tourism sector has always been an important contributor

to the Lebanese economy, representing a major source of income and employment. Yet, the

performance of the tourism sector is highly dependent on political stability and security in the

country and the region.

II.1 TOURISM CONTRIBUTION TO THE GDP

Throughout the past fifteen years, tourism in Lebanon has witnessed irregular growth with many

downfall periods. Despite the unstable political and security situation between 2005 and 2009,

tourism contribution to the GDP remained stable with an average of $3.9 billion in terms of direct

contribution and $11 billion in total contribution. In 2010, Lebanon underwent political stability and

security and witnessed a touristic thrive that had never been previously registered in the post-Civil

War period. The direct contribution of tourism to the GDP was estimated at $4.5 billion (12.9%

growth compared to 2009), and its total contribution accounted for $13.2 billion (15.4% growth

compared to 2009). However, this growth did not last. Since 2011, the Lebanese tourism sector has

suffered from a compound crisis that began with the political and security instability as a result of the

Syrian conflict and consequential influx of Syrian refugees, which had a major impact on Lebanon’s

social, political and economic situation. This instability was further exacerbated by the October 2019

social and political unrest, followed by the worst financial and economic downturn in Lebanon’s

modern history. Consequently, the tourism sector registered negative growth at a Compounded

Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of -2.8% over the 2010-2019 period. By the end of 2019, the direct

and total contribution of tourism to the GDP were consecutively valued at $3.4 billion (7% of the

total GDP) and $10.5 billion (19.1% of the total GDP) (Figure 1).

FIGURE 1: TOURISM DIRECT AND TOTAL CONTRIBUTION TO LEBANON’S GDP

Source: www.wttc.org

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Lebanon’s leisure travel spending

generated 95.5% of the travel and tourism GDP in 2019, amounting to $9.3 billion. As for business

travel spending, it comprised the remaining 4.5% in the same year, amounting to $0.4 billion.

3.9 3.8 3.9 3.9 3.9

4.5 4.13.6 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.5 3.4

11.010.5

10.811.1 11.5

13.212.5

11.110.7

10.0 9.9

10.110.6 10.7 10.5

-1.8-3.0

3.8

-0.1

1.1

12.9

-7.2

-13.8

-4.4 -5.2

-…

2.3

6.2

1.9

-1.9

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

20.0

-15.0

-10.0

-5.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Tourism total contribution to GDP US$ billion

Tourism direct contribution to GDP US$ billion

Percentage growth of direct contribution to GDP

http://www.wttc.org/


The economic recession and tourism decline in Lebanon were aggravated in 2020 by the COVID-19

pandemic and the Beirut Port explosion on August 4, which destroyed much of the port and

severely damaged the dense residential and commercial areas of the capital within a five kilometer

radius, including many hotels and restaurants, and the vibrant neighborhoods of Gemayzeh and Mar

Mikhael, known for their nightlife. Figures on the tourism contribution to the GDP in 2020 are not

published yet, though the World Bank has estimated a 19.2% decline of the total real GDP in 2020

and projected a further 13.2% decrease in 2021. This projection assumes that COVID-19 effects will

carry through the first quarter of 2021, macro policy responses will continue to be absent, and

reconstruction and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the Beirut Port explosion will remain limited.

II.2 TOURISM CONTRIBUTION TO EMPLOYMENT

The WTTC estimated that the tourism sector generated 132,000 jobs directly in 2019 (5.8% of total

employment). This includes employment by hotels and restaurants (around 90,000 employees), and

the remaining 42,000 in leisure services, travel agents, airlines, transportation (excluding commuter

services), and other diverse tourism service providers. The total contribution of the tourism sector

to employment, including wider effects from investment, the supply chain and induced income

impacts, was 434,000 jobs in 2019 (19.2% of total employment). There are no official statistics on

tourism employment in 2020, however, the major syndicates of the sector estimate that the

workforce decreased by at least 50% at least. It is still unknown if the loss of jobs is a temporary or

permanent phenomenon. Local media have reported that upwards of 17,000 hotel employees lost

their jobs in 2020, travel agencies are suffering from the currency devaluation crisis, and the food

and beverage (F&B) sector employees are all at risk.

II.3 MARKET DYNAMICS

II.3.1 INTERNATIONAL MARKET

According to the Ministry of Tourism (MOT), the highest number of international tourists’ arrival in

the last 10 years was registered in 2010 with 2.16 million visitors, compared to the lowest number

in 2013 with 1.27 million visitors. On average, Arabs constituted 31% of the total international

tourists and non-Arabs accounted for 69% in the period 2010-2019 (Figure 2).

FIGURE 2: EVOLUTION OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS’ ARRIVAL TO LEBANON 2010-2019

Source: Ministry of Tourism, excluding Lebanese, Syrians and Palestinians.

0.89

0.580.46 0.40 0.46 0.48 0.52 0.56 0.56 0.57

1.27

1.07

0.900.87

0.891.03

1.161.29

1.40 1.36

2.16

1.65

1.361.27

1.35

1.51

1.68

1.851.96 1.93

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Arab Non-arab Total


In the first five months of 2019, the number of international visitors was 855,210 compared to

197,465 during the same period in 2020. This 77% decrease in the number of international tourists is

primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on media estimations, the decrease reached nearly

90% by the end of 2020 compared to 2019.

In terms of international market segmentation, Europeans (mainly from France, Germany, and the

United Kingdom) constituted the highest share of international tourists visiting Lebanon, with an

average of 36% of the total number of international tourists for the period 2010-2019. The Arab

market (primarily Iraq and Jordan) is ranked second with 31% of international tourists. Before the

2011 crisis in Syria and the increasing political instability in Lebanon, the Arab market was dominated

by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC), specifically Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,

and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). The share of this market segment decreased from 17% of

international tourist arrivals in 2010 to 7% in 2017. This significant drop is mainly due to travel bans

to Lebanon imposed by GCC governments. This decrease affected the tourism expenditures by

international tourists since GCC visitors have a higher spending level compared to Europeans and

other nationalities. The American market is ranked third with 17% of international arrivals, with

visitors mainly coming from the United States, Canada, and Brazil. It must be noted that arrivals from

South/East Asia and Africa pertain to migrant work more than tourism. Oceania has the lowest

share of international tourist arrivals to Lebanon (Figure 3). In terms of spending, international

visitors (or visitors’ exports) generated 89.7% of the direct travel and tourism GDP in 2019,

amounting to $8.7 billion.

FIGURE 3: DISTRIBUTION OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS BY ORIGIN (2010-2019 AVERAGE)

Source: Ministry of Tourism

Diaspora tourism

International tourist arrivals to Lebanon include Lebanese expatriates and diaspora traveling with

their foreign passports. According to Lebanon Economic Vision, the Lebanese diaspora constitutes

approximately 50% of the total foreign visits to Lebanon. The major countries of origin for the

Lebanese diaspora are the United States, Canada, Brazil, France, Germany, the United Kingdom,

Australia, the GCC, and African countries. Assuming that the diaspora does not stay in hotels, it was

estimated that the Lebanese diaspora spent nearly $5 billion on tourism between 2005 and 2015

($0.5 billion per year on average). Diaspora tourism is mainly driven by the need to reconnect with

ancestral homelands, nostalgia, and solidarity with the country of origin. The most classical segment

31%

36%

17%

8%

5%4% Arab countries

European countries

American countries

Asian countries

African countries

Oceania countries


of diaspora tourism is the Visiting Friends and Relatives type of tourism, or VFR tourism.

Additionally, the Lebanese diaspora is interested in cultural and religious tourism.

II.3.2 DOMESTIC MARKET

Domestic tourism can be described as tourism involving residents1 of one country traveling within

their own country. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a

person must be away from their usual place of residence for at least one night to qualify as a

domestic tourist. In the case of Lebanon, the Lebanese community and foreigners who reside in the

country have been showing a growing interest for domestic tourism since 2010. This trend is

primarily related to the evolution of the nature-based and rural tourism market and the increasing

number of tourism service providers and activities in rural areas.

The WTTC defines domestic travel and tourism spending as “spending within a country by that

country's residents for both business and leisure trips.” Domestic tourism spending is, overall, much

lower than visitor exports, and also fluctuates much less than international tourist spending from

year to year, due to the resilience of domestic tourism ahead of crises. According to the WTTC,

domestic travel spending generated 10.3% of the direct travel and tourism GDP and amounted to $1

billion in 2019. Other than this general estimation for domestic tourism spending, there are no

official statistics for this market in Lebanon. Most of the domestic tourism happens in rural areas

where the majority of tourism services and activities are not governed by a specific legal framework

and belong to the informal economy. However, field observations during the last decade and a few

publications have shown that nature-based tourism (including ecotourism and adventure tourism),

cultural tourism, village-based tourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy tourism, and religious tourism are

the main types of domestic tourism market.

On the other hand, the recent financial crisis pertaining to the devaluation of the Lebanese currency

and the COVID-19 pandemic boosted domestic tourism in Lebanon, particularly since the majority

of Lebanese were not able to travel abroad in 2020. A study conducted in June 2020 by researchers

from the Lebanese University – Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management analyzed the

Lebanese domestic tourism market dynamics from a demand perspective in light of the economic

crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that 78% of survey respondents traveled

abroad in the period 2018-2019, compared to 52% who are considering traveling abroad in the

period 2020-2021. On the domestic market level, 70% of respondents showed interest in traveling

inside Lebanon in the period 2020-2021. Over three quarters of the respondents (76%) prefer to go

on tourism trips inside Lebanon with their friends, families and relatives. The ideal group size is

between two and five people per trip. The most preferred source of information about the

destination and the services offered on the domestic market are social media and other internet

platforms, followed by word-of-mouth.

Despite the tremendous importance of social media, the majority of domestic tourists (80%) prefer

to book their stays/activities via phone calls. These results shed light on the importance of the

Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) for tourism marketing and destination promotion. Moreover,

they show how important it is for tourism service providers to have a professional and attractive

presence on social media. According to respondents, the top three destinations by Caza were the

Shouf followed by Batroun and Akkar. This could be explained by the fact that these areas represent

a convenient place to practice the top three activities selected by respondents: hiking, sightseeing,

and camping. Furthermore, the push factors (elements that encourage people to take a trip) showed

that the majority of respondents seek to enjoy nature, explore and relax. The pull factors (elements

1 In addition to the original residents of a country, people who move to another country and intend to stay there for more than one year are immediately

considered to be residents of that country.


that attract travelers to a particular destination) are nature, biodiversity, landscape, and sceneries.

Both pull and push factors and the activities are consistent with the choice of these regions.

Concerning the willingness to pay for various tourism services and activities, the results showed that

for a one-day organized tour (including transportation, meals, and activities), there are two major

clusters of respondents for the minimum and maximum willingness to pay, with 36% willing to pay a

minimum of 40,000 Lebanese Pounds (LBP) and 43% willing to pay 90,000 LBP per person for a one-

day organized tour. As for a two-day organized tour (including transportation, accommodation,

meals, and activities), 32% are willing to pay a minimum of 100,000 LBP and 40% are willing to pay a

maximum of 150,000 LBP per person. The majority of the respondents who wish to travel on their

own are willing to pay between 20,000 LBP and 35,000 LBP per person for a meal, and between

60,000 LBP and 90,000 LBP per person for one overnight stay. For the latter, guesthouses and

camping sites are the most preferred types of accommodation (Abou Arrage & Ghadban, 2020).

II.3.2 COMPETITIVENESS

“The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019”2 published by the World Economic Forum

assigned Lebanon a score of 3.4 competitiveness index, qualifying it as such to rank 12th in the region

and 100th in the world, down four positions since 2017. According to the report, Spain topped the

list of covered countries in the T&T competitiveness index for the third consecutive time with a

score of 5.4, earning its leading position due to its exceptional heritage, remarkable natural and

cultural sites, and comprehensive tourism service infrastructure, among other factors. Furthermore,

Europe, with a total of six nations in the top 10 positions, emerged once again as the region with the

most T&T competitive economies and the highest T&T regional average competitiveness level.

France came in second in the world in the 2019 TTCI with a score of 5.4, followed by Germany

(score: 5.4), Japan (score: 5.4), the United States (score: 5.3), and the United Kingdom (score: 5.2).

On a regional basis, the U.A.E. preserved its leading position across countries in the Middle East and

North Africa (MENA) region in the 2019 TTCI, ranking 33rd in the world with a score of 4.4. The

U.A.E. was followed by Qatar (global rank: 51; score: 4.1), Oman (global rank: 58; score: 4.0),

Bahrain (global rank: 64; score: 3.9), and Egypt (global rank: 65; score: 3.9), among other covered

MENA nations. The TTCI is composed of four sub-indexes, namely the “enabling environment”,

“T&T policy and enabling conditions”, “infrastructure”, and “natural and cultural resources”, taking

into account 14 different pillars and 90 individual indicators. Among the 14 pillars, Lebanon

performed best in the prioritization of travel and tourism (global rank: 51; score: 5.0), health and

hygiene (global rank: 61; score: 5.6), price competitiveness (global rank: 68, score: 5.5), and tourist

service infrastructure (global rank: 75; score: 4.0) pillars. On the other hand, Lebanon’s weakest

areas pivoted around natural resources (global rank: 130; score: 2.0), human resources and labor

markets (global rank: 116; score: 3.9), and business environment (global rank: 115; score: 4.0).

From another perspective, Lebanon is facing increasing competition from its regional peers in terms

of competitive product offerings and packages, especially from Cyprus and GCC countries that are

increasingly providing attractive offerings as destinations for families, entertainment, gaming and

nightlife. Moreover, Lebanon is lagging behind in cultural and Meeting, Incentives, Conferences and

Exhibitions (MICE) offerings, especially in light of increasing competition from GCC countries (e.g.,

Abu Dhabi has recently opened Louvre and Guggenheim museums, and the biggest MICE events are

organized in Dubai).

Moreover, the Lebanon Economic Vision report published by McKinsey & Company in 2018 showed

that archeological sites in Lebanon’s neighboring countries attract up to 20 times more tourists on

2 The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report provides a detailed measurement on the Travel & Tourism (T&T) environment in 140 countries around the

globe through the T&T competitiveness index (TTCI). The TTCI assesses “the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable development of the

Travel & Tourism (T&T) sector, which in turn, contributes to the development and competitiveness of a country”.


average than similar sites in Lebanon such as in Baalbeck and Beit El Dine, which attracted 50,000

and 70,000 visitors in 2017, respectively.

III. RURAL AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM

III.1 VALUE CHAIN, TYPOLOGY AND MARKET SEGMENTATION

III.1.1 THE TOURISM VALUE CHAIN

The tourism value chain follows the flow of travelers and tourists from the international and

domestic markets. Travelers and tourists determine the demand and match their needs/preferences

with the available supply and build their product using the wide variety of services and activities.

Thus, the tourism value chain is a complex structure formed of multiple service providers that

together facilitate the total experience for the tourist. Figure 4 illustrates Lebanon’s tourism value

chain structure that includes eight major services and a multitude of categories for each service.

Travel organization, including booking and transportation, provides services for tourists and

travelers regardless of the tourism types they are interested in, whereas leisure and entertainment

services fall under the conventional tourism types. Accommodation, food and beverage, excursions

and tours, and attractions provide services for tourists and travelers depending on their interest, and

the types of experience they are seeking. Some of these services and attractions are specific for the

rural and nature-based tourism types, and they include:

• Accommodation: youth hostels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, camping sites, bungalows,

eco-lodges, and agro-tourism/farm stays

• Food and beverage: wineries, breweries and distilleries, host tables (tables d’hôtes), and

specialized restaurants related to rural, ecotourism and agro-tourism projects and initiatives

• Excursions and tours: specialized tour operators and eco-tour operators, local guides, hiking

guides, and outdoor sports guides

• Attractions: villages and communities, crafts makers, natural sites, nature reserves, and trails

• Other services: village markets and craft shops

The tourism value chain analysis in this report focuses on the service providers operating in the rural

and nature-based tourism field (namely ecotourism, adventure tourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy

and wine tourism) and the support institutions that constitute the enabling environment for these

types of tourism and influence their development and growth. The performance of the rural and

nature-based tourism service providers and the enabling environment influences the total experience

of the tourist. The evolution of rural and nature-based tourism in Lebanon, their integration in the

tourism value chain, their key stakeholders and service providers, and their market dynamics are

presented and analyzed in the following sections of the report.


FIGURE 4: TOURISM VALUE CHAIN & STAKEHOLDERS MAP

Source: Author


III.1.2 TOURISM MARKET SEGMENTATION

Lebanon’s tourism market is divided into two main segments and over 20 distinct types of tourism

benefiting from the rich and diverse cultural and natural heritage in the country (Figure 5).

FIGURE 5: TOURISM TYPES AND MARKET SEGMENTATION IN LEBANON

Source: Author

Conventional tourism targets the mainstream market and is based on large-scale tourism services

and facilities. It aims at attracting a high number of visitors to tourism destinations; therefore, it is often

referred to as mass tourism and is consumption-based. The most important types of conventional

tourism include cultural tourism3 (specifically historical, archeological, and religious tourism), city and

urban tourism, entertainment tourism, and recreational tourism. Even though they target niche markets,

business tourism, MICE, wellness tourism, medical tourism, and educational tourism are also considered

part of the conventional tourism market.

Alternative and experiential tourism targets niche markets and promotes small-scale and

sustainable tourism services and activities. Even though they attract a limited number of visitors,

alternative tourism products and services can have a high added value and can carry important direct

and indirect economic benefits while preserving both natural and cultural resources. Therefore,

alternative and experiential tourism is resource-based. The most important types of alternative tourism

are based on natural and rural heritage and include some cultural tourism types such as ethnic and

community-based tourism, adventure tourism, ecotourism, wildlife tourism, geo-tourism, agro-tourism,

gastronomy tourism and wine tourism. Despite their sustainability objectives, poorly planned and

unmanaged rural and nature-based tourism types can generate negative social, economic and

environmental impacts, as is the case of conventional tourism.

3 Cultural tourism types can be classified under both markets, conventional or alternative, depending on the scale of services and activities they offer, the

sustainability practices, and the level of specialization.


According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 2014 rural tourism value

chain assessment report, “the precise share of rural tourism in the total tourism sector in Lebanon is

unknown.” In their study on the rural tourism market in Lebanon, Ghadban et al. (2017) studied the

perception and behavior of potential rural tourists on the domestic market. Personal characteristics,

especially respondents’ personal income and cultural background, have been identified as major factors

that affect their decision-making process regarding rural tourism services and facilities. Results also

revealed a lack of awareness by the surveyed respondents about critical sustainable tourism issues in

rural areas, and visitor perception that is somewhat different from what is actually being provided by

tourism stakeholders in rural areas.

In addition to rural and nature-based tourism, new alternative tourism types are starting to emerge in

Lebanon, including solidarity tourism, volunteerism, creative tourism (also known as creatourism), and

dark tourism. The country has great potential for these niche markets, yet they are still underexplored

and underdeveloped.

III.2 LEBANON’S RURAL AND NATURAL LANDSCAPE

Lebanon’s rural areas represent a large portion of the total land area but a decreasing percentage of the

population (11.2% of the total population in 2019 according to the World Bank). Rural exodus is a well-

studied phenomenon in Lebanon. The search for improved economic opportunities has pushed many

people, particularly youths, to migrate and settle in urban zones (USAID, 2014). The Lebanese rural

landscape is a combination of natural ecosystems and cultural heritage, characterized by a rich and

diverse mosaic of ecosystems with high, arid uninhabited mountains (1,800 meters to 3,000 meters

above sea level); inhabited middle mountain and mild hills villages (500 meters to 1,800 meters) with

terraced agricultural lands on the slopes and in the valleys cultivated with perennial crops, olive trees

and fruit trees; and wide agricultural plains in the hinterland (Beqaa Valley at an altitude of 900 meters)

cultivated with vineyards, industrial crops, and vegetables.

Cultural heritage: Lebanon has a plethora of cultural attractions boasting five UNESCO World

Heritage sites and 10 sites on the UNESCO tentative list. It also has over 500 other cultural, religious,

historical and archeological sites spread all over the country and representing all of the civilizations that

have passed through Lebanon from ancient history until modern times, in addition to the traditional

architecture like the stone houses and red-tiled roofs in Mount Lebanon, the mud-brick houses in the

Beqaa Valley, and black stone houses in Akkar. Moreover, Lebanon offers rich, intangible heritage

traditions and history such as its cuisine, art, and craft-making. Among those and listed on the UNESCO

list is the “Al Zajal” (or recited and sung poetry) and one ongoing nomination, the Arabic calligraphy.

UNESCO Heritage Sites in Lebanon Designated World Heritage Sites: The five UNESCO world heritage sites are the Anjar Ummayad site, the

Baalbeck Roman temples and fortress, the Byblos fortress and archeological site, the Tyre Roman ruins, and the

Qadisha Valley and the Cedars of God.

Tentative list: The UNESCO tentative list includes the sites that Lebanon intends to nominate for the World

Heritage Sites list, and they include the Batroun old town, the Sidon old town, the Echmoun temple near Sidon,

the historical monument of the Menjez village in Akkar, Sacred Mount Hermon and its associated cultural

monuments in Rachaya, the Nahr El Kalb archeological site on the Kesrouane coast, the Mount Amel castles in

Nabatieh and Tyre (Chakif Arnoun, the Tebnine fortress, the Dubbeih fortress, Deir Kifa, and Burj El Naqoura),

the Tripoli old town, the Rachid Karameh International Exhibition Fair in Tripoli, and the Anfeh promontories on

the Koura coast (Ras El Qalaa, Ras El Natour, Ras El Mlelih).


Natural heritage: Lebanon is known for its distinguished landscape, diverse ecosystems and rich

biodiversity with over 200 endemic species. The country offers a wide variety of natural sites including

forests, rivers, mountainous areas, sandy and rocky beaches, agricultural terraces with a wide variety of

products and seasons, hills and fertile plains. Despite being threatened by environmental degradation and

pollution, especially on coastal areas4 and rivers5, many natural sites still preserve their integrity,

specifically nature reserves, protected forests, and preserved natural sites and monuments. The Jeita

Grotto is among the most famous natural touristic sites in Lebanon, and it was visited by nearly 222,000

individuals in 2017.

Museums: The rich cultural and natural heritage of Lebanon is also represented in 95 museums spread

all over the country (12 in Beirut, 52 in Mount Lebanon, 15 in North Lebanon and Akkar, 10 in South

Lebanon and Nabatieh, and 9 in the Beqaa). The Beirut National Museum is the most visited museum in

Lebanon. The remaining museums are linked to specific touristic sites and showcase the local cultural

heritage, traditions, art and natural history, with the majority being privately owned. An exhaustive list

of museums can be found on https://www.bamleb.com/museums.

Strongly affected by land management plans, Lebanon’s rural and natural landscape is facing many

challenges. Rural-urban economic disparities and unsustainable land management practices contribute to

the erosion of the country’s natural and cultural values. Landscape degradation problems pertain to

most of the coastal areas and a significant number of mountain areas. Failure in planning and

management are further aggravated by political marginalization that has left rural communities in

Lebanon in need of social and economic development.

From an environmental perspective, Lebanon’s rural landscape has been threatened by a multitude of

factors that have caused loss of biodiversity, fragmentation or destruction of habitats, and different

forms of pollution. Human activities have caused pollution through urban sprawl, land encroachment,

industrialization, improper management, and discharge of wastewater and solid waste. Among these

human activities, uncontrolled tourism and infrastructure development constitute an increasing pressure

on and threat to natural and cultural resources of rural areas.

In response to the natural landscape’s degradation, between 1992 and 2016 the Ministry of Environment,

the Ministry of Agriculture, the MOT, and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and

municipalities designated a number of Protected Areas. By the beginning of 2021, the existing

classification of Protected Areas in Lebanon included 18 Nature Reserves designated by law, three

UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserves, 24 Natural Sites designated by ministerial decrees and

decisions, 18 Hima6, 12 Protected Forests, and 14 Touristic Sites. A multitude of other rural landscapes

and natural landmarks (forests, valleys, river basins, mountain peaks, caves, specific geological landforms,

etc.) remain without any form of protection, and are facing many challenges. Most of these sites

4 Lebanon has access to 225 kilometers of Mediterranean coastline beaches, hence the large majority of these beaches are urbanized and occupied by resorts,

limiting free access to the sea. The only remaining public beaches exist in Naqoura, Tyre, Beirut, Byblos, Amchit, Batroun, and Chekka. Water-based activities in the

sea are not well developed and organized; the main activity practiced is diving. 5 There are 14 major rivers in Lebanon. Touristic activities along rivers are limited seasonal restaurants and camping in the wild. River sports activities exist only in

the Assi river in Hermel where rafting is practiced and in the Litani river in South Lebanon where kayaking is practiced. 6 Hima means protected area in Arabic; according to the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), a Lebanese NGO specialized in nature

conservation, the Hima is a community-based approach used for the conservation of sites, species, habitats, and people in order to achieve the sustainable use of

natural resources. It originated more than 1,500 years ago where it was spread along the Arab Peninsula as a “tribal” system of sustainable management of natural

resources. It was applied as a system for organizing, maintaining, regulating, and utilizing natural pasture and rangelands in a way fitting with ecosystems and local

practices. It evolved with Islam, adding to it values and rules. Hima management and decisions are made by the local communities themselves. SPNL is reviving the

Hima approach in collaboration with municipalities in order to promote the conservation of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and conserve the sustainable use of natural

resources, among which ecotourism activities are introduced to the Hima.

https://www.bamleb.com/museums


constitute an important asset for the tourism industry in Lebanon, in particular rural tourism and

nature-based tourism types.

III.3 RURAL AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM EVOLUTION

The Lebanese tourism sector has suffered severe blows resulting from the Civil War (1975-1990) and

the political and security unrest (2004-2009 and 2011-2020) in Lebanon and the surrounding countries.

Between 1990 and 2004 the tourism industry rebuilt itself in parallel with the reconstruction of the basic

infrastructure. Governmental policies in the post-war period focused on promoting conventional

tourism in urban and coastal cities, while rural areas remained neglected until the early 2000s when

international organizations started to implement rural development projects with tourism components,

in addition to a few private initiatives.

The emergence of rural and nature-based tourism in Lebanon dates back to the mid- and late 90s,

specifically between 1995 and 1997, with the creation of four tour operators and dozens of outdoor

sports clubs specialized in nature-based tourism and adventure activities, namely hiking, trekking,

climbing, diving, paragliding, rafting and kayaking. The market was limited to the few foreigners

interested in alternative tourism and a limited number of Lebanese nature lovers and outdoors

enthusiasts. Rural accommodation services mostly consisted of small hotels, mountain resorts, and

furnished apartments. Thus, the visitation of rural areas was characterized by high seasonality and by its

concentration in certain mountain hubs known historically for their beautiful landscape and mild climate

in the summer, and snow sports in the winter.

From 1998 to 2004 rural tourism witnessed an important but slow evolution, especially with the

designation of the first seven nature reserves and the introduction of the ecotourism concept in four of

the seven designated reserves. The number of rural and nature-based tour organizers increased from

four to seven and one-day hiking excursions for the domestic market emerged, in addition to packaged

tours (five to eight days) for the international market.

Between 2005 and 2008 many rural tourism development projects were implemented in Lebanon with

the objective of supporting local economies through the improvement of the agricultural sector and

rural tourism. Among those projects, two major rural tourism development programs funded by USAID

had a major influence on the future of rural and nature-based tourism. They introduced to the tourism

market new services and activities, specifically in terms of accommodation and nature-based activities

represented mainly by hiking. They are the following:

• The Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT) (2005-2008): The LMT is a long-distance hiking trail

extending over a 470-kilometer path. It crosses 75 towns and villages from the north to the south at

altitudes ranging from 600 meters to 2,000 meters above sea level, in addition to one World

Heritage Site, two Biosphere Reserves, and four Protected Areas (Figure 6). The trail was conceived

and developed to showcase the natural beauty and cultural wealth of Lebanon’s mountains and rural

areas, and to demonstrate the determination of the local communities to conserve this unique

heritage.

During the project implementation, and for the first time in Lebanon, 11 guesthouses were partially

renovated, and their owners were trained on the basics of hospitality services. Established in 2007,

the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA) objectives are 1) to develop, maintain and protect

the LMT, 2) to help establish side trails on the LMT, 3) to protect the natural, cultural and

architectural heritage and landmarks near the trail; and to enhance economic opportunities by


promoting responsible tourism. Since its creation, the LMTA has worked on the development of the

trail with the objective of supporting local economic opportunities through responsible tourism,

educational programs for schools, and environmental conservation activities. In line with this, the

LMTA has been upgrading the existing guesthouses on the trail and helping develop new ones.

In the last decade, the LMT has become the backbone of the country’s rural tourism industry and

one of its main tangible products for rural economic growth. The LMTA is continuously working

with national, regional, and local partners from the rural tourism value chain to upgrade its trail

services and activities. The association has three main programs: trail development, education

programs, and community development. In addition to these, it also occupies itself with

administration, outreach (public relations and communication) and policy platforms (including

protection, legislation, training, and blazing). The LMTA is endeavoring to make the trail a world-

class destination with proper delineation, trail blazing, promotion, and accommodation together

with trail-side attractions and activities. While it may be perceived that the LMTA is only concerned

with hiking activities, the association does much more: it maintains the trail, educates and creates

awareness among local communities and young people on the importance of the LMT to the

country’s heritage, and supports families and businesses along the trail. More information about the

LMT and LMTA can be found on www.lebanontrail.org.

http://www.lebanontrail.org/


FIGURE 6: LEBANON MOUNTAIN TRAIL MAP

Source: www.lebanontrail.org

• The Diyafa Network was conceived by the international NGO American Near East Refugee Aid

(ANERA) in 2005 in recognition of the outstanding potential for tourism to contribute to the

economic development of rural communities in Lebanon. The main goal of Diyafa was to increase

economic opportunities in rural communities by stimulating sustainable income and employment in

the tourism sector, more specifically in the accommodation services. The program established a

network of 44 alternative tourism lodging facilities and classified them within seven categories,

including: Guesthouses; Small Hotels; Hostels; Youth Hostels; Religious Lodgings; Eco-lodges; and

Camping Sites. In 2014, a second phase of the project aimed to provide technical support and

cooperative marketing for a network of 31 guesthouses. The project upgraded the Diyafa website

(www.diyafa.org) and included an online reservation system. The Diyafa Network is currently

inactive.

http://www.lebanontrail.org/

http://www.diyafa.org/


Beyond Beirut and Lebanon Traveler In addition to the LMT and Diyafa projects, USAID supported the establishment of the Beyond Beirut initiative in

2010 with the objective of developing and promoting rural tourism. Beyond Beirut was registered as an NGO with

the objectives of 1) providing trainings and consultancies, and organizing national forums and workshops 2)

supporting in destination development and project proposals, and 3) acting as a collective marketing platform and

publishing a specialized quarterly magazine titled “Lebanon Traveler” in partnership with Hospitality Services

S.A.R.L. The NGO organized two national rural tourism forums in 2011 and 2012, contributed to the elaboration

of the National Rural Tourism Strategy in 2014, and supported the implementation of rural tourism projects in

2016. Beyond Beirut has been inactive since 2017 but is still registered as an NGO and its website is still online

(www.beyondbeirut.com). As for the “Lebanon Traveler” magazine, it was fully acquired by Hospitality Services

and published both in print and online (www.lebanontraveler.com), featuring thematic articles about rural tourism

services and activities, and mini guides to rural destinations. Today, “Lebanon Traveler” is the only media platform

specialized in rural tourism.

In 2008, a “Charter for Responsible Tourism in Lebanon” was declared based on a private initiative,

hence it was never endorsed. With the development of this niche market, rural tourism accommodation

started to flourish in the form of inns, youth hostels, informal guesthouses, and camping sites. They were

located primarily in villages bordering nature reserves and key natural sites. By 2010, the number of

nature and rural tour organizers increased to 15, and hiking became more popular among the Lebanese

community. The guesthouses sector also became more organized with the support of the MOT. In

2011, a decree organizing guesthouses’ activities was issued; it remains until today the only regulatory

framework organizing rural tourism services. A five-year National Rural Tourism Strategy was expanded

with the support of USAID in the framework of the Lebanon Industry Value Chain project (LIVCD) in

2014 and endorsed by the MOT in 2015.

Despite the unstable political and security situation in the country and the decreasing number of

international tourist arrivals between 2011 and 2020, rural tourism activities and accommodation

services maintained their growth. New camping sites, guesthouses and boutique hotels were created in

rural areas. Their geographical distribution covers the entire Lebanese territory. A number of

municipalities, local NGOs, and individual initiatives rehabilitated the cultural and natural heritage sites

with the aim of transforming them into touristic attractions using private and external funds. New hiking

trails were created in many villages, and nature reserves became more involved in rural and ecotourism

development. Nature and rural tour organizers increased to 28 in 2014, 50 in 2017, and over 80 by the

end of 2020. The majority of the nature and rural tour organizers are informal entities without any legal

recognition. They diversified their activities, but hiking remains the star product of the sector. Figure 7

presents a summary of the chronological evolution of rural and nature-based tourism in Lebanon with

the key milestones that marked this sector.

Figure 7: Chronological evolutions of rural and nature-based tourism in Lebanon

Source: Author

http://www.beyondbeirut.com/

http://www.lebanontraveler.com/


III.4 RURAL AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS

III.4.1 TRAVEL ORGANIZATION AND BOOKING

Travel organization and booking follows different channels depending on the market sources and type of

tourism. This section describes the dynamics of travel and tourism organization and booking for internal

tourism in Lebanon, which includes, 1) inbound tourism concerning foreigners visiting Lebanon for

tourism; and 2) domestic tourism involving residents of Lebanon travelling within the country.

Inbound tourism

International tourists plan, organize and book their trips to Lebanon through:

1. Foreigner travel agents and/or tour operators based in their country of origin: The international tourist

buys holiday packages prepared by Lebanese travel agents and/or tour operators and marketed/sold

by foreign travel agents/tour operators.

2. Lebanese travel agents and/or tour operators based in Lebanon: The international tourist buys holiday

packages prepared, marketed and sold by Lebanese travel agents and tour operators.

3. Online Travel Agencies (OTAs): The international tourist builds his/her customized holiday through

booking/buying one or many services (transportation, accommodation, F&B, tours, activities)

featured on one or many OTAs.

4. Direct booking: The international tourist builds his/her customized holiday through booking/buying

one or many services (transportation, accommodation, F&B, tours, activities) directly with each

service provider in the destination country. This form of travel organization and booking channel is

used by independent and solo travelers.

Domestic tourism

Domestic travelers plan, organize and book their trips inside Lebanon through:

1. Lebanese tour operators and tour organizers: The domestic tourist buys holiday packages or tours

prepared, marketed and sold by Lebanese tour operators.

2. OTAs: The domestic tourist builds his/her customized holiday, tour or trip inside Lebanon through

booking/buying different services (transportation, accommodation, F&B, tours, activities) featured on

one or many OTAs.

3. Direct booking: The domestic tourist builds his/her customized holiday, tour or trip through

booking/buying one or many services (transportation, accommodation, F&B, tours, activities)

directly with each service provider in the final destination.

Foreign travel agents and tour operators: Some foreign travel agents and tour operators sell

packages to Lebanon, especially in European and North American countries. These agencies have

arrangements with travel agents and tour operators in Lebanon. The packages offered by these agents

tend to be the traditional packages centered on culture and history. Since 2011, due to the increase in

political and security instability in Lebanon, many foreign travel agents and tour operators removed

Lebanon from their catalogues.

International tour operators offering rural and nature-based tourism packages

G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, Trafalgar Travel, Topdeck, Exodus Travels, Explore, World Expeditions, Adventure Alternative,

Go Nomad Travel, Grasshopper Adventures, Active Adventures, Encounters Travel, Europamundo, Responsible Travel,

Steppes Travel, Allibert Trekking, Terres d'Aventure, Nomade Aventure, Evaneos, ARVEL Voyages.

Lebanese travel agents and tour operators: The difference between travel agents and tour

operators in Lebanon is blurred. The legal framework and registration system at the MOT do not


differentiate between travel agents and tour operators according to the international definition7. Based

on the decree number 4216 issued in 1972 and modified by the decree number 9398 issued in 2012,

there are five categories of travel and tourism agencies in Lebanon (Table 1).

TABLE 1: TRAVEL AND TOURISM AGENCIES OFFICIAL CATEGORIES IN LEBANON

CATEGORY NUMBER OF SERVICE PROVIDERS SERVICES

1: Travel Agent

≈ 220 (among which

nearly 160 are members of the Association of Travel

and Tourist Agents in Lebanon (ATTAL),

www.attal.org.lb)

• Selling travel tickets or issuing bonds in their place, as well as organizing individual or group tourism trips from Lebanon to abroad and vice versa, according to specific programs in which all services and works related to

accommodation, site visits, transfers and other required services.

• Issuing bonds or selling travel tickets to organize internal or external tourist trips by land by means of transport owned by the agency or by land transport

companies operating in the country regularly for specific tourism programs.

• Renting tourist cars for foreign tourists, vacationers, or Lebanese expatriates

without a driver to visit tourist and archaeological sites in Lebanon or in neighboring Arab countries or in other countries.

• Providing event services by renting cars with a driver for each car, provided that the rental period is on an hourly basis and does not exceed twenty-four hours.

• Renting motorcycles, four-wheel-drive ATV and UTV vehicles to visit natural,

tourist, and archaeological sites in Lebanon within the permitted routes for this type of vehicle.

2: Tourism transport

agencies 10

• Issuing bonds or selling travel tickets to organize internal or external tourist trips by land by means of transport owned by the agency or by land transport companies operating in the country regularly for specific tourism programs.

3: Tourist car rental agencies

45 • Renting tourist cars for foreign tourists, vacationers, or Lebanese expatriates

without a driver to visit tourist and archaeological sites in Lebanon or in

neighboring Arab countries or in other countries.

4: Event car rental

agencies N/A

• Providing event services by renting cars with a driver for each car, provided that the rental period is on an hourly basis and does not exceed twenty-four hours.

5: Rental agencies for motorcycles, ATV, UTV

N/A • Renting motorcycles, four-wheel-drive ATV and UTV vehicles to visit natural,

tourist, and archaeological sites in Lebanon within the permitted routes for this

type of vehicle.

Source: Ministry of Tourism

The vast majority of Lebanese travel and tourism agents (95%) work on outbound tourism, offering

mainly airline reservations and ticketing, hotel bookings, transfer and car rental bookings, and holiday

packages outside Lebanon. Only around 25 Lebanese travel and tourism agents work in inbound tourism

and have the capacity to operate as travel agents and tour operators at the same time. The latter focus

on conventional tourism; they sell holiday packages for international tour operators and organize tours

in Lebanon covering the main touristic sites like Baalbeck, Byblos, Beiteddine, Jeita Grotto, Harissa, the

Bcharreh Cedars and Qadisha Valley, and sites in Beirut. Very few travel and tourism agents (less than

10), promote packages for medical tourism, skiing, rural and nature-based tourism including trips to

nature reserves and wine tourism. In terms of size and number of employees, 90% of the travel agencies

are small family businesses with three to five employees. Around 5% are considered medium enterprises

and are also family businesses with five to 10 employees. The remainder 5% are considered large

enterprises with an average of 20 employees per business. In total, travel agencies employ around 2,500

individuals.

Lebanese travel agents and tour operators working on inbound tourism

Nakhal, Saad Tours, Wild Discovery, Mirakel Travel, Kurban Travel, Barakat Travel, Azzi Holidays, Al Awael Travel & Tours,

Eagle Travel, Five Stars Tours, Sun Holiday Tours, Blue Ocean Creations, Show Me Lebanon, Fardayso, Lebanon Roots, Younes

Travel, Vent Nouveau, Vladimir Travel, Worldwide Travel & Tourism.

Specialized tour operators: In addition to the conventional travel agents and tour operators, there

are 12 specialized Lebanese tour operators focusing on rural and nature-based tourism for the domestic

7 Tour operators generate ideas for holidays, research the ideas, design the holiday itinerary and content, contract the services needed for the holiday, the

accommodation, transport, guides, tour leaders and then market and sell the package either directly to the consumer or using the services of travel agents to do so.

Travel agents do not, in theory, put together any of their own holiday packages; they sell many different packages produced by different tour operators.

http://www.attal.org.lb/


and inbound tourism markets. These service providers are registered as commercial companies and are

not registered at the MOT where they do not have a specific category. These service providers are

mainly led by their owners and use the services of part-time or seasonal guides.

Lebanese tour operators specialized in rural and nature-based tourism

Responsible Mobilities, 33 North, Liban Trek, Lebanese Adventure, Ibex Ecotourism, Discovery Beyond Borders, Routes LB,

Tourleb, Wanderleb, Living Lebanon, Taste Lebanon, Le Passeport Culinaire.

Informal clubs and tour organizers: A new trend emerged in Lebanon in the post-war period with

the creation of clubs – some are officially registered as outdoor sport clubs at the Ministry of Youth and

Sports, and others are informal – and informal tour organizers who provide rural and nature-based

tourism services and activities, and organize mainly one-day or weekend tours to rural areas and natural

sites. Their number increased from around 15 in 2010 to more than 80 in 2020. These “service

providers” are operated by their owners or members for the clubs and do not have employees. They

use social media platforms to promote their activities and focus on the domestic market.

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs): In the last two decades, travel organization and booking have

shifted to OTAs. This trend is related to behavioral changes among different generations, specifically

Generation X and Millennials, who became initial advocates of the dynamic and flexible packaging model

that rapidly undermined conventional travel agents’ and tour operators’ rigid packaging model. The

presence of Lebanon’s tourism industry on OTAs is focused on accommodation services. Most of the

Lebanese hotels are present on the major OTAs such as Booking and Expedia, in addition to homestays

and guesthouses featured on Airbnb. In terms of packages and tours, Lebanon has a limited presence on

OTAs. TripAdvisor, one of the world’s largest travel sites, shows 40 tours and excursions for Lebanon

compared to nearly 150 excursions and tours for Amman in Jordan alone. Moreover, by the end of

2020, 124,000 reviews and opinions for tours and excursions in Lebanon were featured on TripAdvisor,

compared to 343,000 reviews and opinions for Jordan, and 1,073,000 for Cyprus. Lebanon is not

present on Airbnb experiences, whereas there are 28 experiences offered in Jordan.

Lebanese OTAs and key digital platforms L’Hôte Libanais Online booking for a network of guesthouses and boutique hotels www.hotelibanais.com

Byout Beirut Online booking for a network of furnished apartments and chalets byout.bookeddirectly.com

Cheez Hospitality Online booking for a network of guesthouses and boutique hotels www.cheezhospitality.com

Ajar Online platform promoting Lebanese heritage and hospitality www.ajar.casa

Karya Phone app for experiences booking www.karyaleb.com

Daskra Phone app featuring Lebanon’s cultural and natural sites www.daskaraapp.com

Lebtivity Website for events’ calendar including rural and nature-based tours www.lebtivity.com Skileb Online booking for skiing holiday www.skileb.com

GoSawa Online sales and booking including chalets, hotels and bungalows www.gosawa.com

Makhsoom Online sales and booking for chalets, hotels, bungalows and camping www.makhsoom.com

III.4.2 TRANSPORTATION

Air transport: Lebanon has poor air transport infrastructure; among the three existing airports, only

one is economically active, the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BRHIA). The BRHIA connects

Lebanon to over 60 international destinations with direct flights through 45 major international airline

http://www.hotelibanais.com/

http://www.cheezhospitality.com/

http://www.ajar.casa/

http://www.karyaleb.com/

http://www.daskaraapp.com/

http://www.lebtivity.com/

http://www.skileb.com/

http://www.gosawa.com/

http://www.makhsoom.com/


companies8, including the national carrier Middle East Airlines9 (MEA). BRHIA is the main passenger port

of entry for travelers and tourists with an annual capacity of 6 million passengers. Between 2011 and

2018, the number of annual passengers registered a positive growth at a CAGR of 6.7%. It increased

from 5.6 million in 2011 to 8.8 million in 2018, thus exceeding the airport capacity by 46%, which

affected the quality of services, especially due to overcrowding. In 2019 the number of BRHIA

passengers decreased by 5% compared to 2018. In 2020, the number of passengers registered a sharp

decrease, dropping in the first 11 months of 2020 to 2.2 million passengers compared to 8.1 million

passengers during the same period in 2019. Total arrivals alone dropped by an annual 74.5% to reach 1

million by November 2020. By the same token, departures slumped by 71.3% year-on-year to reach 1.17

million passengers for the same period.

Sea transport: Lebanon has three major commercial seaports (Beirut, Tripoli and Sidon), 20 fishing

ports, among which 6 are used for recreational activities at the same time, and more than 10 private

marinas used for recreational activities. Before its destruction in the August 4, 2020, explosion, the

Beirut seaport was the only one receiving a limited number of cruise ships. The Tripoli seaport has a

passenger ship line connecting Lebanon to the Izmir seaport in Turkey. Only two fishing/recreational

seaports, Byblos and Tyre, offer daily boat trips for tourists. The private marinas are used for private

yachts and boats owned mainly by wealthy Lebanese.

Land transport: Land transportation for tourism in Lebanon involves bus and minibus rentals, taxi

services, and car rental agencies. There are approximately 10 large companies that operate buses and

minibuses, around 45 car rental companies for self-driving, and over 150 taxi companies, in addition to

individual bus, mini-bus and taxi owners who provide services for the tourism industry. Large land

transport companies often work with other travel agents and tour operators to provide the transport

component of a package tour for the inbound and domestic market. Few travel agents own their own

bus fleets such as Saad Holding. In addition to motorized vehicles transportation, cycling is on the rise in

Lebanon. In the last five years, local and national initiatives emerged to promote cycling as a means of

commuting as well as a recreational activity. Beirut by Bike (with a central branch in the capital and city

branches in Tyre, Sidon and Byblos), the PolyLiban Association (ADPL), Cycling Circle, Routes, Vélo

Route, and The Chain Effect are among the most popular initiatives and service providers offering

bicycle rentals, bicycle events, bicycle tours, and bicycle holidays.

Lebanon does not have a decent and well-organized public transportation system; instead, it utilizes an

informal and very poorly organized private transportation system with buses and minibuses linking

Beirut to the main coastal cities and to the Beqaa.

III.4.3 ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation services in Lebanon can be divided into three main categories: 1) conventional

accommodation such as hotels, furnished apartments, and chalets; 2) alternative accommodation, such as

guesthouses and bed and breakfasts, youth hostels, camping sites, forest resorts, bungalows, eco-lodges,

farm stays, and religious lodgings; and 3) Airbnb.

8 Among the 45 airline companies, 36 operate on a permanent basis and nine on a seasonal basis, and seven are low-cost carriers with connections to Cairo, Dubai,

Berlin, Istanbul, Antalya, Jeddah, Amsterdam, Lyon, Paris, and Barcelona. 9 MEA is one of the problem areas in the tourism sector. Many tourism professionals consider that MEA generated high profits at the expense of affordability of

access to Lebanon as a competitive destination.


Hotels: Lebanon has 406 hotels with a capacity of approximately 22,000 rooms. The total number is

very low compared to other touristic countries in the MENA region, making the country more adapted

to niche tourism. The hotels network is characterized by uneven distribution across regions: 79% of

hotels and 83% of hotel rooms are located in Beirut (9,000 rooms) and Mount Lebanon (10,000 rooms).

At the district level, Kesrouane is ranked second after Beirut in terms of total number of hotels. If

counted separately from North Lebanon, Akkar has the lowest number of hotels, followed by South

Lebanon and Nabatieh (Table 2). Most hotels are under 100 rooms in size, with the larger,

internationally branded ones being in Beirut. Moreover, hotels do not cater for all customer segments

across regions, with three and four-star categories being the predominant ones. The majority of five-star

hotels are located in Beirut (57%) and Mount Lebanon (36%), and only three five-star hotels can be

found outside Beirut and Mount Lebanon.

TABLE 2: HOTELS DISTRIBUTION PER REGION AND PER CATEGORY IN LEBANON10

REGION NUMBER %

Distribution per category

5-star 4-star 1, 2 and 3-star

Beirut 110 27% 24 50 36

Mount Lebanon 212 52% 15 58 139 Byblos 27 7% 1 3 23

Kesrouane 98 24% 8 31 59

Matn 49 12% 4 11 34

Baabda, Aley and Shouf 38 9% 2 13 23

North Lebanon (including Akkar) 56 14% 1 12 43

Beqaa 16 4% 2 1 13

South Lebanon and Nabatieh 12 3% - 3 9

Total 406 100% 42 124 240

Source: Lebanon Economic Vision, 2018

According to Lebanon Economic Vision developed by McKinsey & Company in 2018, the average length

of stay for international tourists is 3.2 days, which is a low to medium level of stay compared to

Lebanon’s main competitors. On the other hand, one of the most problematic indicators in Lebanon’s

tourism performance is hotel occupancy. According to the MOT, the average yearly occupancy rate in

Lebanon’s hotels was around 39% in the period 2015-2019. This occupancy rate is considered very low

by international standards; healthy and prosperous tourism destinations need to generate no less than

65% occupancy rate in hotels. In addition, variability in occupancy is observed across regions: in 2019,

the average occupancy rate in Beirut was 62%, while in the rest of the areas it was 20%. The different

crises facing Lebanon are clearly reflected in the significant decrease of the Beirut hotel occupancy rate.

In its benchmark survey of the hotel sector in the Middle East, Ernest and Young (EY) indicated that the

average occupancy rate at four and five-star hotels in Beirut was 13.8% in the first nine months of 2020,

relative to 70.2% in the same period of 2019, and compared to an average rate of 40% in 14 Arab

markets included in the survey.

The occupancy rate at the Beirut hotels was the lowest in the region in the covered period, while it had

been the sixth highest in the first half of 2019. It decreased by 56.5% in the first nine months of 2020,

constituting the steepest decline in the region. In comparison, the average occupancy rate in Arab

markets declined by 25% in the covered period (Figure 8).

10 An exhaustive list of hotels and their classification and regional distribution can be provided by the Lebanese Hotel Association.


FIGURE 8: BEIRUT 4 AND 5-STAR HOTELS OCCUPANCY RATE 2019-2020 COMPARISON

Source: Brite Indicators and Trends

In tandem, data on room rate and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) at four and five-star hotels in

Beirut as per the EY benchmark survey revealed that the average room rate and RevPAR slumped from

$199 and $143 by September 2019, to unprecedented lows of $159 and $23 by September 2020,

respectively.

Furnished apartments and chalets: There are no official statistics on the numbers and distribution

of furnished apartments and chalets in Lebanon, nor on their occupancy rate. These two

accommodation types are located all over Lebanon with the majority of furnished apartments existing in

Beirut and Mount Lebanon, and the majority of chalets in main coastal cities and ski and mountain

destinations.

Alternative accommodation: Alternative accommodation emerged in Lebanon in the period 2000-

2005 with the first initiatives of rural and nature-based tourism. Guesthouses, bed and breakfasts,

camping sites, forest resorts, bungalows set in nature, youth hostels, agro-tourism/farm stays, and eco-

lodges flourished in mountain areas and in the proximity of nature reserves and other natural

attractions. Guesthouses gained more prominence in the period 2008-2010 following the

implementation of two USAID funded projects, “The Lebanon Mountain Trail” and “The DHIAFEE

Network”. By the end of 2010, there were nearly 50 alternative tourism lodging facilities in Lebanon,

and in 2020 their number exceeded 200. Despite this rapid growth and the increasing demand for rural

accommodation, especially with the booming domestic tourism market in the last three years,

alternative accommodation forms are operating without a specific legal framework, except for

guesthouses that were organized by a ministerial decree issued in 2011. Consequently, the

classification/categorization of alternative lodging in Lebanon is random and does not follow clear

standards.

For instance, the majority of boutique hotels in rural areas are registered as guesthouses, which

confuses the market. A large number of camping sites, bungalows, agro-tourism/farm stays do not have

any legal status and operate informally. This situation makes the collection and analysis of data for

59.8%

70.7%

79.0%

85.4%

44.8%

76.7% 75.4%

83.0%

57.2%

70.2%

25.0%30.0%

10.0%

2.0% 3.0% 3.0%0.0%

22.0%

15.0% 13.8%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Average

2019 2020

http://brite.blominvestbank.com/


alternative accommodation very difficult. On the other hand, an important number of alternative

accommodation facilities are listed on online booking platforms, such as Booking and Airbnb.

Airbnb: According to the Airbnb and AirDNA websites (the former is the analytics platform for Airbnb

facilities around the world), there are 3,964 Airbnb offerings in Lebanon, with a total of nearly 17,665

beds. Similar to hotels, the majority of Airbnb locations (80.4%) are in Beirut and Mount Lebanon (Table

3).

TABLE 3: AIRBNB DISTRIBUTION PER REGION IN LEBANON (AD OF JANUARY 2021) Region (district) Number of facilities % Average number of beds per facility Estimated number of beds

Beirut 1,150 29.0% 3.8 4,370

Kesrouane 717 18.1% 4.9 3,514

Matn 700 17.7% 5.0 3,500

Byblos 251 6.3% 4.6 1,155

Batroun 159 4.0% 5.2 826

South Lebanon (Jezzine, Tyre, Sidon) 150 3.8% 4.0 600

Baabda 141 3.6% 4.0 564

Shouf 133 3.4% 5.0 665

Zgharta 132 3.3% 4.0 528

Bcharreh 105 2.6% 4.0 420

Aley 92 2.3% 5.5 506

Zahle 51 1.3% 5.0 255

Koura 43 1.1% 4.0 172

Tripoli 40 1.0% 4.5 180

Nabatieh (Incl. Marjayoun and Bint Jbeil) 37 0.9% 4.0 148

Akkar 24 0.6% 4.0 96

West Beqaa and Rachaya 22 0.6% 4.0 88

Baalbeck-Hermel 17 0.4% 4.0 68

Total 3,964 100% 4.4 17,665 Source: www.airbnb.com; www.airdna.co

There is no published data on the occupancy rate of Airbnb facilities in Lebanon. This information is

available on AirDNA upon paid membership.

III.4.4 FOOD AND BEVERAGE

F&B is the most important sub-sector in tourism, as it is the largest employer and consumer of Lebanese

agricultural and food products. There are nearly 8,000 restaurants and cafes (5,500 open all year round

and 2,500 are seasonal ones that open in the summer). Labor is estimated at 125,000 workers in the

sector. The boom of the restaurant business between 2004 and 2010 has slowed down since 2011 due

to the multiple crises Lebanon is facing.

The BLOM-Invest bank report, “Uncovering the Lebanese Restaurant Industry”, explains that the

restaurants that chose to hastily enter the business during the economic boom soon felt the pressure of

harsher conditions and had no choice but to lock up and leave. Those who survived are 1) the ones with

a loyal, established niche clientele and sufficient cash flow to continue operating under tough conditions,

most likely in the medium to high-end segments; 2) the ones offering an authentic experience with

which the consumers have grown familiar and which entails a reasonable price tag; and 3) the ones

maintaining the best mix of consistency and affordability over the years.

The high-end segment was the most affected by the slowdown in the F&B sector between 2011 and

2019. The recent financial crisis, the currency devaluation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut Port

explosion in August 2020, have put the entire F&B industry in Lebanon at risk.

http://www.airbnb.com/

http://www.airdna.co/


In terms of types, the F&B sector in Lebanon offers a wide variety of international and fusion cuisines, in

addition to the traditional Lebanese cuisine. Moreover, Arak (the national alcoholic beverage) and wine

production are considered to be a distinctive feature in Lebanon. By the end of 2020, Lebanon had 66

wineries, including large-scale, medium, and smaller producers. Of these, 24 are members of the Union

Vinicole du Liban (UVL), the country’s official association of wine producers. Overall, Lebanon produces

8.5 million bottles of wine per year. According to UVL, there are four large-scale wineries in Lebanon

producing around 60% of the total wine market in terms of production volume. The wine industry also

involves another 15 medium-sized producers (producing 100,000 to 500,000 bottles each), 14 small

wineries (producing 50,0000 to 100,000 bottles each), and 33 niche micro-wineries producing less than

50,000 bottles per year. The Beqaa Valley has the largest number of wineries (41%), followed by Mount

Lebanon (36%), Batroun (14%), North Lebanon (6%) and South Lebanon (3%). In addition to Arak and

wine production, micro-breweries and distilleries emerged in the last five years; today there are three

micro-breweries in Lebanon and five micro-distilleries producing gin, whiskey and vodka. Some micro-

breweries and distilleries offer F&B services and tasting activities (Cf. section III.6.5 for details about

wine tourism).

III.4.5 EXCURSIONS AND TOURS

Based on the Lebanon Economic Vision report estimations, Lebanon offers a limited range of excursions

and tours. Very few conventional travel agents and tour operators offer daily excursions and tours to

touristic regions and attractions. Big hotels in Beirut offer excursions and tours to the main touristic

sites of the country in cooperation with tour operators or licensed guides. There are nearly 150

licensed guides in Lebanon officially recognized by the MOT, of which 25 are members of the Tourist

Guide Syndicate. There is no difference between a tour guide and a tour leader in Lebanon. Local guides

and mountain guides, working mainly in village tours, hiking and outdoor sports activities, are not

officially recognized in Lebanon; moreover, some local and mountain guides, or outdoor sports clubs

and their members – as in the case of paragliding and rafting – are playing the role of tour operators for

the domestic market and the international tourists, which is creating unfair competition with registered

tour operators and companies.

Some initiatives were created in the last five years to promote city walking tours and cultural tours, such

as “Beirut walking tours” and “Mira’s guided tours”. The Hop-on Hop-off bus was introduced to

Lebanon in early 2019, though the deteriorating situation did not allow this initiative to continue.

Visitation to major touristic sites: Accurate numbers and statistics about touristic sites’ visitors are

provided only for the sites managed or supervised by the MOT and the Ministry of Culture (Table 4)

and a few nature reserves and parks (Cf. paragraph III.5 for more details on visitors of nature reserves).

Very limited information exists on the number and profile of visitors to wineries, agro-tourism projects,

and natural/cultural attractions managed or supervised by municipalities and/or NGOs. The collection

and analysis of such data necessitates extensive field work.

TABLE 4: NUMBER OF VISITORS EVOLUTION TO MAJOR TOURISTIC SITES

Site 2015 2016 2017

Jeita Grotto 221,782 186,737 222,849

Byblos fortress and archeological site 89,259 90,730 93,439

Beit El Dine palace 62,430 72,967 85,334

Baalbeck temple and fortress 36,870 51,665 78,448

Sidon fortress 27,250 45,227 52,960

Beirut National Museum 32,045 39,117 38,157

Tyre archeological site 11,867 14,217 18,546

Faqra temple 9,916 10,537 12,012


Tripoli fortress 2,219 2,315 2,880 Source: Ministry of Tourism

According to the above table, Jeita Grotto is the most visited site by far in Lebanon, with the Byblos

fortress ranking second, and the Tripoli fortress the least visited. The data available is not segregated

between locals and foreigners, so it is difficult to analyze visitation patterns by visitor or by nationality.

Though, with over 1.8 million visitors reported in 2017 as having entered Lebanon and less than 200,000

having visited the three out of the five World Heritage Sites in Lebanon (Byblos, Baalbeck, Tyre), it is

clear that large numbers of international arrivals are not foreign tourists, but rather are most likely the

diaspora, or arrivals for business meetings with short stays. Another explanation for this gap between

the high number of international arrivals and the low number of visitors to major touristic sites could be

the weak promotion of Lebanon as a cultural tourism destination.

III.4.6 SUPPORT INSTITUTIONS

The tourism support institutions influence the sectors’ performance and its enabling environment in

different ways. These institutions can be divided as follows: governmental; municipal; syndicates; donors;

NGOs; academic; research; consulting; banks and financial institutions; investors; media; and business

incubators. The following sections of the study describe the role of each support institution in the

governance and development of the tourism sector, namely rural and nature-based tourism.

Governmental and public institutions: Tourism development on the public level is greatly

correlated with the country’s central administration represented by ministries, national councils, and

other affiliated bodies. The sector’s governance is shared among multiple institutions carrying different

responsibilities.

The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) is the primary governmental institution responsible for promoting

tourism and administering the sector.

The MOT has seven main departments and 20 sub-departments responsible for 1) promoting tourism;

2) regulating, coordinating, and monitoring tourism professions; 3) regulating, coordinating, and

monitoring private companies and associations working in the tourism sector; 4) promoting and

executing tourism investment projects; 5) facilitating and simplifying rules and requirements related to

these projects; 6) applying laws and regulations related to tourism and tourism enterprises; and 7)

developing archaeological and historical sites and museums for tourism purposes. In addition to the

MOT, the following ministries have different mandates and responsibilities related in one way or another

to the tourism sector:

• The Ministry of Culture is responsible for excavating, preserving, and managing archeological sites,

managing national museums, protecting other important cultural heritage assets such as traditional

architecture, and promoting cultural events.

• The Ministry of Environment is responsible for protecting natural resources and supervising the

nature reserves’ management, including monitoring ecotourism activities within the reserves.

• The Ministry of Agriculture protects forests, regulates the wine production sector, the fisheries

sector, and other agricultural activities that could be integrated into many forms of tourism.


• The Ministry of Interior and Municipalities is responsible for law enforcement, ensuring safety and

security, and regulating the work of municipalities.

• The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation is responsible for developing and maintaining

transportation infrastructure, which includes roads, the airport and seaports. The ministry is also

responsible for the public maritime lands over which most of the beach resorts are built.

• The Ministry of Energy and Water protects and manages the exploitation of rivers, water bodies

and springs, and regulates any activities along riverbanks.

• The Ministry of Youth and Sports gives permits for youth hostels and outdoor sports

clubs/federations.

• The Ministry of Public Health inspects all of the establishments that provide food and beverage

services, including hotels and restaurants.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs promotes Lebanon as a tourist destination through its economic

attachés in Lebanon’s embassies around the world.

The National Tourism Council Lebanon was among the first countries in the world to establish a National Tourism Council (NTC) in 1962. The

NTC was formed of representatives from the public and private sectors. It acted as a national tourism board and

was responsible for overseas promotion and tourism projects’ execution. After the creation of the MOT in 1966,

the NTC was chaired by the Minister of Tourism, with members from the private sector representing the tourism

syndicates. Its responsibilities and tasks were transferred to the MOT, and it became a consultative entity. In 1992,

the NTC became completely inactive and its tasks were officially nullified by a ministerial decree.

Other than ministries, the following public institutions and entities support tourism development:

• The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): While it is formed of representatives from the

private sector and the civil society, the Economic and Social Council is considered a public entity and

works under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s office and provides consultative services to the

Cabinet. The Council’s tourism committee conducts research studies and organizes conferences and

meetings to improve and develop tourism.

• The Council for Reconstruction and Development (CDR): The CDR is considered a super ministry

in Lebanon. It is affiliated with the Prime Minister’s office. The CDR plans and executes multiple

projects related to the basic infrastructure of the country and has a strong influence on the national

development strategies.

• Parliamentary committees for agriculture and tourism study and suggest new laws and regulations

for the tourism sector and submit them to the joint parliamentary committee to be listed on the

meetings of the Parliament’s General Assembly for voting and ratification.

• The Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL): IDAL is the national investment

promotion agency promoting Lebanon as a key investment destination, and attracting, facilitating and


retaining investments in the country. IDAL provides a framework for regulating investment activities in

Lebanon and providing investors with a range of incentives and business support services.

Tourism is one of the priority sectors identified by IDAL among the most promising opportunities in

terms of their investment potential and impact on socio-economic growth. IDAL used to promote

investment in large-scale tourism projects such as big hotels and resorts with funding originating

mainly from countries within the GCC. After the economic and COVID-19 crises, the investment

priorities changed, and IDAL is revising the tourism sector priorities and is planning to promote more

small-scale tourism projects with a focus on nature-based tourism, ecotourism, cultural and religious

tourism. IDAL enjoys financial and administrative autonomy and reports to the Prime Minister’s office,

which exercises a tutorial authority over it.

• Kafalat: Jointly owned by the public and private sector, Kafalat’s main function is to extend to the

banks a guarantee against 75% of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-up loans at a

subsidized fee, and with bank loans’ subsidized rates, pegged to treasury bills interest rates. However,

since the start of the Lebanese financial crisis in 2019, banks have stopped lending and Kafalat has not

guaranteed any new loan contract in 2020.

• The Directorate of General Security is responsible for controlling access to and exit from the

airport, seaports and land ports, and granting visas to foreigners upon their arrival to the border

stations. For national security reasons, all hotels, furnished apartments and other accommodation

facilities send information to General Security, in real time, about their facilities’ users through sharing

passport or ID copies.

• The Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) is responsible for collecting, analyzing and publishing

data on the tourism sector performance such as the number of international arrivals, hotel occupancy

rates, the number of visitors to major touristic sites, and the contribution of tourism to the GDP and

to employment.

The manifold responsibilities and their fragmentation between different public entities that do not have a

clear coordination mechanism make the governance of the tourism sector a complex process, and does

not facilitate the elaboration and implementation of tourism policies and strategies on the national level.

Tourism-related laws and decrees are subject to different interpretations from the involved

stakeholders. In addition, the legal framework is obsolete and needs to be revised and updated to

accompany the evolution of the tourism industry in light of the new global trends.

Municipalities and unions of municipalities: Municipalities and unions of municipalities play a major

role in tourism development and governance at the local and regional level, through what is known as

decentralized administration. According to the decree 2170 issued on December 12, 2018, and which

distributes the proceeds of the independent municipal fund, there were 1,029 municipalities in Lebanon

by the end of 2017.

These local authorities represent 73% of the total number of the territorial localities (1,409). The

remaining 380 villages that do not have municipal councils responsible for the management of their

geographical territory are directly administered by the Caimacam (administrator of the Caza).


Municipalities and unions of municipalities control most of the governance aspects within their

jurisdiction area that might affect tourism directly or indirectly. The municipalities’ responsibilities and

tasks include control over budgets, revenues (tax collection), and spending; planning and contracting

public works; urban planning and land use organization; and services such as providing household water

and treating solid waste and wastewater.

However, municipalities remain constrained administratively and financially. Most of the municipalities

are too small, lack enough personnel, and have insignificant tax revenues. Moreover, municipalities are

bound by the central administration (the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, the General Directorate

of Urbanism, the Civil Service Council, and the Ministry of Finance) that limit their ability to assume

their role specified by the municipalities law. The unions of municipalities present a partial solution to

the problem, where unions are better staffed and have more access to funds to conduct local

development projects.

There are 57 unions of municipalities in Lebanon, with their major role focusing on the enhancement of

small municipalities’ capacities in creating better and faster change and impact. The level of involvement

of municipalities and their unions in relation to tourism development and promotion on their territories

differ from one area to the next and is strongly correlated with the degree of awareness among mayors

and municipal councils, as well as with their ability to plan for and execute tourism-related projects using

their own funds or through external funding.

In the last two decades, around 100 municipalities (nearly 10% of the total number) and 11 unions of

municipalities implemented at least one project, initiative, activity, or event to develop and promote

tourism on their territories, with a focus on rural and nature-based tourism. The majority of these

municipal projects and initiatives were funded by international organizations and donors and

implemented in partnership with local NGOs. However, the sustainability of tourism projects at the

municipal level needs to be reinforced by a Public-Private Partnership approach that will allow the

private sector to manage tourism projects and ensure their profitability and long-term viability. (Annex

2. Unions of municipalities and municipalities active in rural and nature-based tourism)

Business associations: Tourism business associations are represented by one federation for tourism

industries regrouping eight syndicates and one recently created union specialized in ecotourism and

sustainable tourism (Table 5). These organizations aim to organize and develop the tourism sub-sectors

they represent in coordination with other public and private entities. They also defend the interests of

their members and lobby for the improvement of rules and regulations governing the sector. Some of

these syndicates offer benefits to their members such as technical support programs, training and

research.

TABLE 5: TOURISM BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS: SYNDICATES AND UNIONS Federation Syndicate/Union Number of members Sub-sector

Lebanese

Federation for

Tourism

Industries

Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies in

Lebanon (ATTAL) ~300

Travel organization (ticketing, booking,

transportation, tour organization)

The Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafés,

Night-Clubs & Pastries ~1,000 F&B and recreation

Lebanese Hotel Association (LebHOA) ~400 Accommodation, F&B, recreation

Syndicate of Furnished Apartments in Lebanon N/A Accommodation

Syndicate of Car Rental Agencies in Lebanon ~45 Transportation

Syndicate of Beaches & Resorts in Lebanon N/A Recreation, accommodation, F&B

Syndicate of Tourist Guides ~25 Tours and excursions

Syndicate of Crafts Makers N/A Local products


Union of Sustainable and Ecotourism Institutions in

Lebanon (USEIL) 5 Sustainable rural and nature-based tourism

Civil society and NGOs: There are 15 NGOs implementing regional and national projects aimed at

developing rural and nature-based tourism services and activities, in addition to the preservation and

valorization of the natural and cultural heritage:

• Arcenciel: The promotion and valorization of local heritage through sustainable tourism and agro-

tourism, and the management of a private natural park, farm, eco-lodge and traditional restaurant.

(www.arcenciel.org)

• The René Mouawad Foundation (RMF): The implementation of municipal development projects

pertaining to tourism, and livelihoods support through rural tourism initiatives. (www.rmf.org.lb)

• Caritas: The implementation of municipal development projects pertaining to tourism, and livelihoods

support through rural tourism initiatives. (www.caritas.org.lb)

• Nahnoo: The promotion and protection of public spaces and natural landscapes. (www.nahnoo.org)

• Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI): The integration of tourism activities in forest management

plans, the creation of hiking trails and provision of training and technical support to local service

providers such as guides and cooperatives, and capacity building for municipalities. (www.lri-lb.org)

• Council of Environment: The integration of tourism activities in environmental initiatives, the

creation of hiking trails and provision of training to local guides.

• Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL): The designation of Hima protected areas,

and the development and promotion of ecotourism services and activities. (www.spnl.org)

• The Food Heritage Foundation (FHF): The preservation and valorization of the culinary heritage

and promotion of gastronomy tourism. (www.food-heritage.org)

• Association du Développement Rural (ADR): The technical support and training for rural tourism

service providers, with a focus on the fisheries sector. (www.adr.org.lb)

• Cedar’s Mountain Foundation (CMF): The preservation and valorization of the cultural and

religious heritage of the Wadi Qadisha World Heritage Site and Bcharreh district.

(www.cedmount.org)

• Fair Trade Lebanon (FTL): The technical support for and training of local food producers, and

support to municipalities in establishing fair trade villages and fair tourism destinations.

(www.fairtradelebanon.org)

• Association for Forest Development and Conservation: The integration of tourism activities in

forest management plans, the creation of hiking trails and provision of training and technical support

to local service providers such as guides, and capacity building for municipalities (www.afdc.org.lb).

• Lebanon Tourism Energy (LTE): The overseas promotion of Lebanon as a tourism destination and

the promotion of rural and domestic tourism.

• The Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA): Cf. pages 16-17.

• Diyafa: Cf. page 18.

Universities: There are 12 universities in Lebanon offering tourism and hospitality management

programs in specialized faculties, such as in the Lebanese University (LU) and the Islamic University in

Lebanon (IUL), or within programs affiliated with other business faculties, which include Université Saint-

Joseph (USJ), Lebanese American University (LAU), Sagesse University (US), Notre Dame University

(NDU), Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), University of Balamand (UOB), Lebanese International

University (LIU), Al Kafaat University (AKU), American University of Science and Technology (AUST),

and Arts, Sciences and Technology University in Lebanon (AUL). In addition to higher education, there

http://www.arcenciel.org/

http://www.rmf.org.lb/

http://www.caritas.org.lb/

http://www.nahnoo.org/

http://www.lri-lb.org/

http://www.spnl.org/

http://www.adr.org.lb/

http://www.fairtradelebanon.org/

http://www.afdc.org.lb/


are technical and vocational schools and institutes offering hospitality related diplomas with a focus on

F&B and restauration. These include one public institute, the Hotel Management Institute of Dekwaneh,

and seven private institutes, the CIT technical school, CIS technical college, YMCA technical college,

Pigier, Central College Jounieh technical school, Cortbawi Institute, and the Institute of Management and

Services.

Consulting firms: There are approximately 10 consulting firms and over 30 individual consultants

offering services for the tourism and hospitality sector. Less than 10 consultants are specialized in rural

and nature-based tourism.

Certification firms: Certification programs for the tourism and hospitality industry remain limited for

conventional hotels and restaurants and are mostly offered by international organizations though their

national or regional offices. There are no national certification bodies or programs for rural and nature-

based tourism services/activities.

Banks and financial institutions: There are several banks in Lebanon that offer subsidized and

unsubsidized loans to medium and large tourism projects, in addition to the micro-credit institutions

that have provided loans for small tourism projects.

Media: In addition to the traditional media channels (television, radio, newspapers and magazines) that

promote domestic tourism, digital and social media platforms are becoming the main tools for tourism

promotion in the international market. At the level of tourism service providers, many firms are trying

to improve their digital presence. At a destination level, Lebanon is still lagging behind compared to

many others in the MENA region.

Business incubators/accelerators and startup ecosystem: Today there are nearly 35

organizations supporting the startup ecosystem in Lebanon. These include 12 incubators/accelerators,

eight venture capital firms, seven co-working spaces, three support units, and five universities. Unlike

countries in the region, tourism business incubators are missing in Lebanon and the startup ecosystem

does not support tourism and hospitality directly. Hence, its predominant Information and

Communications Technology (ICT) component can be of great support to the sector, especially in

terms of proposing solutions to technological challenges, introducing innovation, integrating

sustainability, and advancing digital transformation in existing and emerging tourism services and

activities.

III.5 INSTITUTIONAL AND DONORS SUPPORT

III.5.1 POLICIES AND STRATEGIES

A destination’s competitiveness and tourism success depend on a country’s ability to adapt to current

and future social, economic, environmental, health, security and technological challenges, and to focus

more on the development of tourism governance and incorporate it within general and cross-cutting

economic development strategies. Yet, Lebanon is not among the countries that have developed or are

currently developing a comprehensive strategy for the tourism sector. The MOT has launched a number

of unsystematic initiatives to boost tourism, coordinated promotional campaigns to position Lebanon on

the touristic map and maintain its position as a touristic destination, and led specific projects to support


touristic activities, notably through supporting international and local festivals. The obsolete legal

framework, the complex enabling environment, and the lack of political and economic stability did not

help the public and the private sector set a clear tourism policy orientation for the long-term

development of the sector.

The most important tourism development strategies and initiatives are the following:

• National Strategy for Tourism (1996): Building on the “Horizon 2000” general development plan

and the UNWTO framework strategy, a national strategy for tourism was established in 1996 with

the following priority actions: 1) Rehabilitating and managing Tripoli’s historic sites and Jounieh’s old

city center; 2) Managing Damour’s coastal plain; 3) Planning for Qadisha Valley’s management; 4)

Managing Lake Qaraoun; 5) Expanding the plan for the mountain areas; 6) Managing Batroun’s coastal

area; and 7) Rehabilitating and upgrading public beaches. Only the first priority action was

implemented.

• Integrated Tourism Development Plan in the Republic of Lebanon (2004): A comprehensive

development plan for the tourism sector was developed by the Japanese International Cooperation

Agency (JICA) in cooperation with the MOT and CDR.

• Cultural Heritage and Urban Development Project (2003-2016): This large-scale project funded

by the World Bank focused on rehabilitating and improving the basic infrastructure of the major

touristic sites and cities of Lebanon, namely Tripoli, Byblos, Baalbeck, Sidon, and Tyre.

• Lebanon Diaspora Energy (LDE) regional conferences (2014-2019): This initiative was launched

by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2014 to organize a series of national and overseas conferences.

They aim to: 1) Celebrate the Lebanese diaspora’s success stories in different countries; 2) Promote

Lebanese heritage by spreading Lebanese culture and traditions around the world; 3)

Establish connections between the diaspora and Lebanese residents, thus providing an opportunity for

them to share experiences, enhance relations, and establish business and social connections; 4)

Explore new possibilities and opportunities, where Lebanese residents and expatriates can together

restore Lebanon’s positive image and boost the world’s trust in its economic potential; 5)

Assist individuals with Lebanese origins to obtain their citizenship and enjoy the merits and advantages

of being Lebanese; 6) Spread the concept of “Lebanity” among both the diaspora and their

compatriots in Lebanon to preserve and fully live the Lebanese lifestyle.

• National Rural Tourism Strategy - NRTS (2015-2019): The National Rural Tourism Strategy was

funded by USAID in the framework of the Lebanon Industry Value Chain (LIVCD) project in 2014 and

endorsed by the MOT in 2015. It is a five-year development strategy aimed at enhancing economic

opportunities in rural areas through improving the competitiveness of the rural tourism value chain.

Some of the eight strategic objectives were partially achieved, such as rural tourism promotion,

product diversification, integration of rural tourism in the education system, and business linkages.

Alternatively, the institutional and legislative framework, the conservation and protection of the

natural and cultural heritage, quality control, and the improvement of information management and

data collection still need to be improved by all concerned stakeholders in order to better organize the

rural tourism value chain and ensure its sustainability on the social, economic, and environmental

levels. Despite these institutional and enabling environment gaps, tourism professionals and academics


consider that rural tourism services and activities registered an important growth between 2010 and

2020. This trend is observed though the increasing number of rural accommodation offerings.

Moreover, most of the rural and nature-based tourism types were resilient ahead of the different

crises facing Lebanon, especially with their reliance on the diaspora and the domestic market. Today,

rural and nature-based tourism offer significant potential for the tourism sector with many

opportunities for SMEs, job creation, income diversification, innovation, heritage preservation and

valorization, and economic and social cooperation, provided it is accompanied by the upgrade of the

tourism legal framework to make it more adaptable to the industry’s new trends, as well as to

guarantee the market’s sustainability and its competitiveness on the long term.

• Visit Lebanon (2017): Launched in 2017, Visit Lebanon is an overseas marketing and promotion

campaign implemented by the private sector under the supervision of the MOT. Since its launching,

Visit Lebanon organized only one international forum in Beirut dedicated to promoting Lebanon as a

leisure and MICE tourism destination, with a focus on business-to-business (B2B) marketing. A website

was created in the process: www.visitlebanon.com. The lack of funding and the recent crises in

Lebanon did not allow for further events to be organized under this initiative.

• Lebanon Economic Vision (2018): Lebanon Economic Vision, a detailed report prepared by

McKinsey & Company for the Government of Lebanon in 2018, placed tourism as one of the most

promising sectors and a driver of economic growth. The management consultancy’s report –

presented in the form of a 1,274 slide-long PowerPoint presentation – dedicated nearly 120 slides to

the tourism sector. The tourism vision initiatives tend to prioritize the mass tourism concept, rather

than promote a sustainable tourism approach based on alternative and experiential tourism forms in

alignment with the global trends, which were confirmed after the COVID-19 pandemic. From a

marketing perspective, the vision proposed promoting and branding Lebanon as the “up-and-coming

Mediterranean Riviera” with three main types of tourism: leisure (including “City and Entertainment,”

“Sun & Sea,” and “Culture,” as well as a “niche offering in ultra-luxury ecotourism”), business (with a

focus on the MICE section and the GCC), and medical tourism. This market and branding vision bears

many paradoxes, especially for two types of tourism. The ultra-luxury ecotourism concept does not

match the realities of Lebanon due to the small size of its nature reserves and their proximity to urban

settlements, the fragility of natural ecosystems, and the absence of legislation for ecotourism in

general. As for the MICE and the Sun & Sea sections of leisure tourism, these are among the least

competitive markets for Lebanon due to the low attractiveness of the coastline and the high levels of

sea water pollution, in addition to the very low capacity to compete with neighboring destinations

such as Turkey, Cyprus, the U.A.E. and Egypt, resulting in a deteriorated value for money. Moreover,

sun and sea tourism is not a trending market segment anymore according to many international

studies and reports. The 22 proposed priority tourism initiatives did not promote a balanced socio-

economic development model since it favored the center-periphery model, which increases disparities

and gaps between urban and rural areas. The vision mentioned three tourism anchor destinations and

urban/coastal hubs in Beirut, Byblos, and Tyre, instead of developing regional tourism clusters and

geographical destinations offering thematic experiences for travelers. In addition, the tourism priority

initiatives were not presented with a clear time frame that identified how long their implementation

needed. In terms of economic impact, the report estimated that the number of jobs in the tourism

sector will increase from 89,000 in 2017 to 185,000 in 2025. However, there is no explanation as to

how the added 96,000 jobs will be created in the span of six years, how they will be distributed among

http://www.visitlebanon.com/


the different sub-sectors of the tourism industry, and which tourism businesses and services will

absorb them.

• Lebanon Economic Recovery Plan (2020): In light of the critical economic and financial crisis, the

Government of Lebanon published an Economic Recovery Plan in 2020 aimed at revitalizing the

economy and adopting policy reforms. The tourism sector was mentioned in the study as one of the

main sectors that could ensure foreign currency for the country, but it did not elaborate on the

needed reforms to unlock tourism potentials, nor did it specify which tourism forms should be further

developed and promoted.

III.5.2 DONORS ASSISTANCE

• USAID Lebanon Industry Value Chain Development - LIVCD (2013-2017): The LIVCD

program implemented 27 rural tourism projects benefiting municipalities, unions of municipalities,

nature reserves and NGOs, in addition to the elaboration of the National Rural Tourism Strategy.

The projects aimed to upgrade the rural tourism industry and bring economic benefits for rural

communities through: 1) Creating new rural tourism services and activities and upgrading existing

ones; 2) Promoting rural tourism on the local, regional and national levels; and 3) Establishing

linkages among the rural tourism value chain stakeholders.

• USAID Building Alliances for Local Advancement, Development & Investment -

BALADI (2012-2020): The BALADI program supported local stakeholders (municipalities, NGOs,

faith-based organizations) to improve their resilience in providing transparent, quality services to

communities across Lebanon. Among the 59 implemented projects, 24 projects focused on

ecotourism and rural tourism at the village level. (www.baladi-lebanon.org)

• USAID Lebanon Enterprise Development - LED (2018-2022): The LED program organized

two international conferences on tourism resilience and digital transformation in the tourism

industry, in addition to a promotional activity through producing videos for social media on the

culinary heritage of Lebanon with a renowned international food blogger. Recently, LED gave a grant

to GWR, a certification company, to provide technical support to nearly 50 restaurants in the field

of public health and COVID-19 measures. LED also gave another grant to hospitality services to

organize 12 online webinars on different issues related to the sector.

• USAID Community Support Program - CSP (2018-2022): CSP is working on village-based

development projects in partnership with municipalities and cooperatives. It is supporting rural

tourism projects initiated by municipalities in partnership with local NGOs.

• USAID Trade and Investment Facilitation - TIF (2020-2025): The TIF program targets the

ICT, agro-food, manufacturing, and tourism sectors.

• USAID Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods - PSL (2020-2025): The PSL project aims to

improve the livelihoods of residents of target municipalities through training, technical assistance,

infrastructure rehabilitation, and marketing and improve and upgrade existing assets in their

municipalities with a focus on agriculture and rural tourism. The PSL is implemented across seven

clusters gathering 105 municipalities.

• European Union: The European Union funded several projects aiming to promote sustainable

development with tourism and heritage components. Over 10 tourism and heritage projects are

being implemented under the European Neighborhood Initiative (ENI) and the Cross Border

Cooperation in the Mediterranean mechanism (CBC-MED). These projects involve partners from

different Mediterranean countries and aim to create regional networks for sustainable tourism

management such as the Mediterranean Ecotourism Experience Network (MEET), the

http://www.baladi-lebanon.org/


Mediterranean Sustainable and Adventure Tourism (MEDUSA), Cultural Routes for Sustainable

Social and Economic Development in the Mediterranean (CROSSDEV), and the iHERITAGE: ICT

Mediterranean platform for UNESCO cultural heritage. (www.enicbcmed.eu)

• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): UNDP, in partnership with local

organizations and municipalities, implements several projects and initiatives aiming to promote

sustainable tourism services and activities under different programs such as the Lebanon Host

Communities Support Programme (LHSP).

• Italian Cooperation: The Italian Cooperation implements several projects targeting cultural

tourism and ecotourism. These projects fall under the economic development, environment, and

heritage preservation and valorization programs. One of the most important projects funded by the

Italian Cooperation in the last few years is the Cultural and Religious Tourism (CRT) project aiming

to promote Lebanon’s religious heritage and to integrate it in the tourism value chain.

(www.culturalreligioustourism.com)

III.6 RURAL AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM TYPOLOGY AND ANALYSIS

III.6.1 RURAL AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM TYPES

Even though there are similarities and common grounds between some rural and nature-based tourism

types, the tourism market distinguishes based on specific characteristics, principles and criteria related

to the types of attractions, services and activities offered for the travelers (Figure 9).

The UNWTO defines Rural Tourism as “a type of tourism activity in which the visitor’s experience is

related to a wide range of products generally linked to nature-based activities, agricultural and culinary

heritage, rural lifestyle, culture and sightseeing. Rural Tourism activities take place in non-urban (rural)

areas with the following characteristics: 1) Low population density; 2) Landscape and land use dominated

by agriculture and forestry; and 3) Traditional social structure and lifestyle11.”

There is no universal definition for nature-based tourism, but tourism professionals and scholars

agree that it concerns any type of tourism that relies on experiences directly related to natural sites. It

includes adventure tourism, ecotourism, wildlife tourism, and geo-tourism. The analysis of rural and

nature-based tourism in Lebanon in this study focuses on ecotourism, adventure tourism, agro-tourism,

gastronomy and wine tourism.

11

https://www.unwto.org/rural-mountain-tourism

http://www.enicbcmed.eu/

http://www.culturalreligioustourism.com/

https://www.unwto.org/rural-mountain-tourism


FIGURE 9: RURAL AND NATURE-BASED TOURISM TYPES

Source: Author

III.6.2 ECOTOURISM

Ecotourism definition: Ecotourism is defined by the International Ecotourism Society as “responsible

travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and

involves interpretation and education”12. Thus, ecotourism differs from other forms of nature-based

tourism in that its core ideology is to promote education and awareness of the environment and

heritage, help finance future conservation, and improve the well-being of local people and the

environment. According to the UNWTO’s definition13, ecotourism refers to forms of tourism that have

the following characteristics:

1. All nature-based forms of tourism in which the main motivation of the tourists is the observation

and appreciation of nature as well as the traditional cultures prevailing in natural areas.

2. It contains educational and interpretation features.

3. It is generally, but not exclusively organized by specialized tour operators for small groups. Service

provider partners at the destinations tend to be small, locally owned businesses.

4. It minimizes negative impacts upon the natural and socio-cultural environment.

5. It supports the maintenance of natural areas which are used as ecotourism attractions by:

▪ Generating economic benefits for host communities, organizations and authorities managing

natural areas with conservation purposes

▪ Providing alternative employment and income opportunities for local communities

▪ Increasing awareness towards the conservation of natural and cultural assets

12 https://ecotourism.org/ties-overview/ 13 https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development/ecotourism-and-protected-areas

https://ecotourism.org/ties-overview/

https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development/ecotourism-and-protected-areas


Ecotourism resources and attractions in Lebanon

Based on the international definitions and principles of ecotourism, especially with regards to

conservation and education, the main resources for this type of tourism in Lebanon are the different

categories of protected areas. By the end of 2020 the existing classification of protected areas in

Lebanon included:

National recognition

• 18 nature reserves designated by law and supervised by the Ministry of Environment

• 21 protected natural sites and 8 river basins designated by a decision of the Ministry of Environment

• 15 protected forests designated by a decision of the Ministry of Agriculture

• 14 protected touristic sites designated by a decision of the MOT, covering cultural heritage,

archeological, and historical monuments (Annex.3 Protected touristic sites)

• 25 Hima designated by municipal decisions and supported by a national NGO

• Over 10 private natural sites and forests protected by their owners and/or NGOs

International recognition

• 3 biosphere reserves nominated by the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme14

• 15 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) nominated by BirdLife International

• 4 Wetlands of International Importance (WIIs) nominated under the Ramsar Convention15

In addition to the different categories of protected areas, nearly 40 other natural landscapes and sites

(specifically geo-sites and forests) remain without any form of protection and are facing many

environmental threats (Annex 4. Natural sites in need of protection).

The existence of many protected areas and natural sites in Lebanon does not necessarily mean that they

can be automatically considered ecotourism attractions. In fact, an ecotourism attraction needs to be

well protected, accessible, managed, and needs to offer services and activities with educational and

awareness components for its visitors. Most importantly, monitoring human activities and limiting the

negative impact of visitors on biodiversity and ecosystems should be ensured in ecotourism attractions

according to the ecotourism principles.

Nature reserves

Among the 18 nature reserves of Lebanon, only three are coastal/marine reserves and 15 are located in

mountainous and forested areas (Figure 10). These nature reserves constitute around 3% of the total

surface area of Lebanon (excluding their buffer zones). Despite their small territory, they represent a

multitude of ecosystems distinguished by their different micro-climates that enable them to host a very

important number of endemic, threatened, and emblematic species of both fauna and flora (Table 6).

14 The three UNESCO Biosphere Reserves have the nature reserve and protected natural site/forest national designations, and they include the Shouf Biosphere

Reserve, the Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve, and the Jabal El Rihane Biosphere Reserve. The latter [which one?] is not active in the field of ecotourism. 15 The Convention on Wetlands is the oldest of the modern global intergovernmental environmental agreements. The treaty was negotiated through the 1960s by

countries and non-governmental organizations concerned about the increasing loss and degradation of wetland habitat for migratory water birds. It was adopted in

the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975. The Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and

national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world.”


FIGURE 10: NATURE RESERVES GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION IN LEBANON

Source: Combined by author based on data available on www.moe.gov.lb

TABLE 6: LEBANON’S NATURE RESERVES CHARACTERISTICS

Reserve Area (ha)

Elevation Range (m a.s.l)

Main features International designation

Management plan

Ecotourism plan

Palm Islands 418 Sea level Coastal and marine, aquatic and terrestrial, sandy

and rocky beaches

Ramsar, IBA,

SPAMI* Yes No

Karm Chbat 520 1,400-1,900 High mountain, cedar, fir and juniper trees None No No

Horsh Ehden 1,740 1,200-1,900 High mountainous, mixed forest,

40% of Lebanon’s plant biodiversity IBA Yes Yes

Tannourine

Cedars 196 1,300-1,800

High mountain, 25% of Lebanon’s cedar trees,

geological features, religious heritage IBA Yes Yes

Bentael 75 250-800 Middle mountain, mixed Mediterranean forest, river,

religious heritage IBA Yes Yes

Jaj Cedars 20 1,500-1700 High mountain, cedar trees, geological features

(Karst Lapiaz formations) None No No

Yammouneh 2,100 1,400-2,000 Inland plateau and high mountain, juniper trees,

freshwater marshes, cultural heritage None No No

Chnanaair 27 500-550 Middle mountain, mixed Mediterranean forest None No No

Shouf 15, 647 900-2,000 Middle to high mountain, cedar trees,

Ammiq wetland (in the buffer zone)

UNESCO

Biosphere, IBA Yes Yes

Nmayrieh N/A N/A Middle mountain, mixed Mediterranean forest None No No

Abbassieh

coast N/A Sea level

Coastal and marine, sandy beach, sea turtles nesting

site None No No

Tyre coast 182 Sea level Coastal and marine, sandy beach, sand dunes, sea

turtles nesting site, freshwater spring

Ramsar, IBA

SPAMI Yes No

Wadi Al

Houjair 3,595 250-400

Open valley, river, mixed forest,

freshwater spring None Yes No

Kafra 40 650 Hilly mountain, mixed Mediterranean forest None No No

Ramia 20 650 Hilly mountain, mixed Mediterranean forest None No No

Debel 25 600 Hilly mountain, mixed Mediterranean forest None No No

Beit Lif 20 550 Hilly mountain, mixed Mediterranean forest None No No

Jabal Haramoun

N/A 1,500-2,800 Middle to high mountain, plants and herbs cover,

cultural/religious heritage None No No

Source: www.moe.gov.lb, *SPAMI: Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance

http://www.moe.gov.lb/

http://www.moe.gov.lb/


Many institutions form a fundamental part in nature reserve management in Lebanon, since each has a

different role and level of responsibility. Organizations that are primarily in charge of the direct

management of the site, comprising the preparation and the approval of the general management plan

and other specific plans (including ecotourism plans), are:

• The Ministry of Environment, in charge of supervision and endorsement of the management plans

• The Appointed Protected Area Committee (APAC), which is appointed through a decision from the

Minister of Environment to ensure the overall management of the reserve under the supervision of

the Ministry of Environment. This committee is comprised of volunteer members representing

neighboring municipalities, the district governor or Ca’imacam, local NGOs, and other ministries

including:

- The Ministry of Finance (MoF), which has legal ownership of the public lands over which nature

reserves are created, according to Lebanese law

- The Ministry of Agriculture in the case of the existence of farmers or fishermen operating in the

reserves’ buffer zone

- The Ministry of Public Works and Transport in the case of coastal and marine reserves

- The Ministry of Culture and the Directorate General of Antiquities in the case of the existence

of archeological sites inside the reserve

- The Ministry of Energy and Water in the case of the existence of rivers and water springs.

The APAC appoints a manager and a management team for the reserve, and in some cases the

management is operated by a local NGO, as is the case with the Shouf Biosphere Reserve, or in

coordination with a municipality, as is the case with the Tyre Coast Nature Reserve (TCNR). The

Municipality of Tyre manages the touristic zone of the reserve based on a yearly agreement with the

TCNR committee and the approval of the Minister of Environment.

Nature reserves in Lebanon are usually divided into three zones:

1. A core area or conservation zone with limited to no human activities, with the access to this area

limited to scientific research and ecosystem/biodiversity monitoring

2. A transition zone, where controlled human activities such as ecotourism are allowed but without any

infrastructure installation

3. A buffer zone, where more human activities are allowed, including ecotourism and controlled access

for the local communities to use and/or extract some resources such as farming and harvesting wild

herbs, with the adoption and respect of sustainability practices. Reserve entrances and gate facilities

are usually installed within the buffer zone. In the case of biosphere reserves, a fourth zone is added,

called the development zone, and it covers the surrounding villages of the reserve where local

communities live and practice rural activities.

Seven of the 18 nature reserves in Lebanon have a general management plan and only four have an

ecotourism management plan, in addition to one biosphere reserve, the Jabal Moussa Biosphere

Reserve16. The existence of an ecotourism management plan allows the reserve managers to control and

16 Despite being a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve is not considered a nature reserve in Lebanon. The site is protected by

decisions from the Ministry of Environment as a protected natural site and the Ministry of Agriculture as a protected forest.


monitor visitors and to account for the number of visits17 (Figure 11), as well as other ecotourism

indicators inside the nature reserve and in its surrounding area.

FIGURE 11: NUMBER OF VISITS TO MAJOR NATURE RESERVES IN LEBANON (2016-2020)

Source: Combined by author, figures provided by nature reserves managers

*2020 figures for Tannourine Reserve are for the first 6 months of the year

The total number of visits to the five nature reserves in the above table that have an access control

system increased from 130,188 in 2016 to 192,701 in 2019 (a 48% increase). Until 2019, the Shouf

Biosphere Reserve remained the main attraction among the five. It holds the highest number of visitors

(61%) due to its large size, advanced management and promotion, availability of services and activities

inside the reserve and in its surrounding villages, and accessibility.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic and consequential lockdowns of 2020 had a very negative impact on

the number of visits to the reserves, with the Shouf Biosphere Reserve registering a 59.3% decrease

compared to 2019, the Bentael Reserve a 47% decrease, and the Tannourine Reserve a 45% decrease in

the first six months of 2020. The pandemic had a slightly negative impact on the Ehden Reserve with a

10% decrease, whereas in Jabal Moussa, the number of visits increased by 35% in 2020 compared to

2019. These variations in the impact of COVID-19 on the number of visitors can be related to the

following factors:

• The Shouf Reserve lost a major market segment represented by large groups of organized

school/student visits.

• Despite its proximity to Beirut and strategic location, being 7 kilometers away from Byblos, the

Bentael Reserve suffered from a lack of school/student visits and the absence of a solid ecotourism

promotion and communications plan.

17 The number of visits is not necessarily equal to the number of visitors. The same person can visit a nature reserve or any other natural/touristic site several times

per year; in this case he/she is considered a repeater.

87,08891,020

105,173

118,404

48,187

18,24720,182

28,647 29,711

40,093

14,703 15,86016,953

21,130

5,8558,00012,000

16,00020,000 18,000

2,150 2,459 1,800 3,456 1,8210

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

110,000

120,000

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Shouf Biosphere Reserve Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve

Tannourine Cedars Nature Reserve* Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve

Bentael Nature Reserve


• The Tannourine Reserve suffered from the absence of a solid ecotourism promotion plan and

professional communications material, in addition to the deterioration of road infrastructure leading

to the reserve over the last few years.

• The Ehden Reserve was able to maintain the number of visits due to the increasing number of

people who moved to live permanently in their villages in Zgharta during 2020, and who benefited

from their proximity to the nature reserve to visit, even to experience it for the first time,

according to the Reserve manager.

• The Jabal Moussa Reserve was the only one to register a positive growth in the number of visits due

to its proximity to the main source market for domestic ecotourism in Lebanon – Beirut,

Kesrouane and Matn – and the need for the aforementioned areas’ residents to experience a quick

escape to nature. The growth is also due to the diversification of trail offers in the last three years.

This increase in the number of visitors constituted a challenge for the reserve managers in terms of

properly monitoring visitors’ impact and providing them with hiking guides if needed. The

overcrowding at one of the most famous entrances of the reserve in Chouane, especially in

springtime, pushed the management to limit the access to the site to pre-online reservation using

Google forms.

Bentael and Jabal Moussa are the only nature reserves where visitors’ data is segregated by age. On

average, the last five years in Bentael show that the category of visitors aged below 18 constitutes the

highest number of visitors (64 %), followed by 22% for ages between 18 and 35, 12% for ages between

36 and 55, and only 2% for those over 55 years old. These figures are justified by the premise that

Bentael Reserve is a destination for organized school groups as well as for families and their children

because of the presence of a child-friendly nature park at the entrance. In Jabal Moussa, age segregation

is carried out for only two categories: below 16 years old (20% of the visitors, mainly school students in

organized groups) and above 16 years old (80% of the visitors). None of the reserves segregate visitors

by nationality. Thus, nature reserve managers consider that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, around

90% of the visitors were from the domestic market and 10% were international tourists.

As a matter of fact, in 98% of the visitors in 2020 were from the domestic market. In terms of

seasonality, four nature reserves tally the number of visits per month. The seasonality pattern observed

in these four reserves is presented in Table 7, taking into consideration the average number of visits per

month for the period 2016-2020.

TABLE 7: NUMBER OF VISITS AND SEASONALITY (AVERAGE OF 2016-2020)

Reserve

Percentage of visits in

the high season

April to September

Percentage of visits in

the low season

October to March

Top three

months of

visitation

Top month of

visitation

Percentage of

visits during top

month

Month with

lowest number

of visits

Shouf Biosphere 70% 30% July, August

September August 18% December

Jabal Moussa

Biosphere 79% 21%

June, July

September July 18% January

Tannourine 82% 18% July, August

September August 21% January

Bentael 72% 28% May, June

August May 23% January


The above table shows that seasonality patterns are primarily related to weather conditions. Reserves

located at a high elevation range such as Tannourine and the Shouf receive their highest number of

visitors in the summer season, specifically in the month of August. The Jabal Moussa Reserve located

between middle and high mountains receives its highest number of visitors in June, July and September,


whereas the Bentael Reserve, which is located at a lower altitude, receives the highest number of

visitors in the month of May. December and January have the lowest number of visitors in all the

reserves. Table 8 and Table 9 show the available infrastructures, services, activities and projects available

in the major nature reserves in Lebanon that welcome visitors regardless as to whether they have a

general management plan or an ecotourism plan18.

18 Detailed information on some reserves can be found on their websites: www.shoufcedar.org; www.horshehden.com [page nonexistent]; www.arztannourine.org

[URL expired]; www.jabalmoussa.org; www.bentaelreserve.org; www.tcnr-leb.com.

http://www.shoufcedar.org/

http://www.horshehden.com/

http://www.arztannourine.org/

http://www.jabalmoussa.org/

http://www.bentaelreserve.org/

http://www.tcnr-leb.com/


TABLE 8: LEBANON’S NATURE RESERVES INFRASTUCTURE AND ACTIVITIES

Reserve Office Staff Guides and rangers Access control Gate facility Other infrastructure

and resources Number of delineated trails and length Activities and events

Palm Islands None None None None19 None None None Swimming, snorkeling, diving

walking, bird watching

Horsh Ehden Yes 5

Permanent:

2 rangers, 10 guides

Seasonal:


Yes 2

Souvenir shop

Native trees nursery

9 inside the reserve (including 1

educational trail)

Length: 13 km

4 km suitable for people with reduced

mobility and biking

2 connecting the reserve to neighboring

village

Length: N/A

LMT sections 5-6

Hiking*, mountain biking,

climbing, caving, snowshoeing*,

ski touring, bird watching

wildlife observation*, star

gazing, reforestation events,

painting events, photography

events

Tannourine Cedars Yes 1

Permanent:

2 rangers, 1 guide

Seasonal:

3 guides

Yes 1

Souvenir and local

products shop


educational trail)

Length: 10 km

6 connecting the reserve to

neighboring village

Length: 89 km

5 km suitable for biking

LMT section 9

Hiking, cycling/biking*,

snowshoeing*, ski touring, bird

watching, wildlife observation

star gazing

Bentael Yes 1

Permanent:

1 ranger, 1 guide

Seasonal:

5 rangers, 5 guides

Yes 2

Children’s park and

playground

Restaurant (closed)

8 inside the reserve

Length: 10 km

Hiking, adventure park with zip-

line and rope games for children

Jaj Cedars None None Seasonal:

2 rangers None None None

1 inside

the reserve

Length: 2 km

Hiking

Chnanaair None None Seasonal:

1 ranger Yes 1 None

1 inside

the reserve

Length: 3 km

Hiking

Shouf Biosphere Yes 15

Permanent:


Seasonal:

16 guides

4 Internal Security

members supporting

the reserve in law

enforcement

Yes 6

5 souvenir and local

products shops

1 picnic area

4 farmers’ markets

1 grape press

1 restaurant (managed

by Souk El Tayeb)

Online shop


educational trail)

Length: ~200 km

1 km suitable for people with reduced

mobility

11 connecting the reserve to

neighboring village

Length: ~200 km

LMT sections

17-18-19-20

Hiking, cycling/biking*, climbing*,

Snowshoeing*, ski touring, bird

watching*, wildlife observation*,

horseback riding, star gazing,

reforestation events, thematic

trail walks, artistic events, trail

running events, village festivals

Jabal Moussa

Biosphere Yes 7

Permanent:


Seasonal:

2 rangers, 3 guides

Yes 3

3 souvenir and local

products shops

Online shop

15 inside

the reserve

Length: 38.4 km

Hiking*

Snowshoeing*

Tyre coast Yes 4 N/A Partial in the

touristic zone No

Turtles rescue center

Sea patrol boat None

Walking, swimming, snorkeling

diving, sea turtle observation


*Equipment for activity available for rent and/or sale at the facility gate

19

Despite the inexistence of access control to the Palm Islands by the reserve management, there is a Lebanese Army security checkpoint in the Tripoli Port for any fishing or recreational boat sailing

towards the islands.


TABLE 9: LEBANON’S NATURE RESERVES DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION

Reserve Surrounding villages

Cooperation with

municipalities and local

authorities

Cooperation with

NGOs Ecotourism development projects

Cooperation

with local tour

operators and

tour organizers

Types and number of

accommodation services

in surrounding villages

Types and number of

F&B/farmers/agro-tourism

services in surrounding

villages

Palm Islands Tripoli, Qalamoun None IUCN None None N/A N/A

Horsh

Ehden

Ehden, Bchenneta,

Toula, Basloukit

Yes

(Mainly with Zgharta-

Ehden Municipality)

~30, including

LMTA, LRI

Previous: Improving the competitiveness

of rural tourism in Lebanon

Ongoing: none

~20

2 guesthouses

2 camping sites

20 bungalows

8 hotels

2 resorts

3 religious lodgings

30 restaurants and snack

bars

1 winery

7 cooperatives

2 processors

5 shepherds

4 beekeepers

1 agro-tourism project

Tannourine

Cedars

Tannourine, Chatine, Hadath

El Jebbeh, Niha, Kfour El

Aarbeh

Yes

(Mainly with

Tannourine

Municipality)

~5, including

LMTA, Tannour

w Nour, RMF, LRI

Previous: creation of hiking trails to link

the reserve to the village, funded by

USAID-BALADI project

Creation of the educational trail,

funded by the LMTA

Ongoing: none

N/A

3 guesthouses

1 camping site

6 bungalows

3 hotels

N/A

Bentael Bentael, Kfar Mashoun,

Behdaydat, Eddeh

No municipalities exist

in the neighboring

villages

~5, including Al

Hourouf local

NGO, local

scouts, religious

communities,

and LRI

Previous: Green Shell restaurant funded

by USAID-BALADI project

Ongoing: creation of news trails with

LRI, funded by UNDP

~5 1 guesthouse

3 bungalows

1 restaurant

2 snack bars

1 winery

10 beekeepers

4 processors

2 shepherds

Jaj Cedars Jaj, Tartej, Qottara, Saqi

Rechmaya, Lehfed, Ehmej None

~3, including

Jouzour Loubnan N/A N/A N/A N/A

Chnanaair Chnanaair, Ghosta, Maarab,

Ghazir, Sahel Aalma

Union of Kesrouane

Municipalities None None None N/A N/A

Shouf

Shouf: Bmahray, Ain Zhalta,

Barouk, Maasser El Shouf,

Khreibet El Shouf, Mristi, Jbaa,

Niha. Beqaa: Machghara,

Aintanit, Bab Marae, Saghbine,

Ain Zebdeh, Kherbet Qanafar,

Kefraya, Aana, Aammiq Qab

Elias

Yes, with all

municipalities and

agricultural/

women cooperatives

~20 including

LMTA, LRI

+10 implemented projects

2 ongoing projects

~5

18 guesthouses (303

beds)

5 camping sites

7 bungalows

(14 beds)

4 hotels

2 resorts

16 restaurants

6 snack bars

6 table d’hôtes

2 wineries

18 cooperatives

3 shepherds

3 beekeepers

2 agro-tourism projects

Jabal

Moussa

Yahchouch, Ghbaleh, Nahr El

Dehab, Jour El Thermos,

Qahmez, Chouane, Al Ebri

Yes ~20 including

LMTA, LRI

+10 implemented projects

2 ongoing projects

~40

4 guesthouses

5 bungalows

1 camping site

44 beekeepers

Tyre coast

Sour, Borj El Chemali, Deir

Qanoun El Ain, Batoulay, Ain

Baal

Yes ~10 including

IUCN, ADR

2 implemented projects

2 ongoing projects

3 N/A N/A


* Equipment for activity available for rent and/or sale at the facility gate


Based on the data collected from the reserves’ managers and previous field observations, the following

can be concluded:

• The Shouf Biosphere Reserve is the most advanced in terms of management, availability of services

and activities, and the capacity to implement ecotourism projects as well as other rural and

conservation projects. With its strong network of partners and in close collaboration with local

communities, the reserve is acting as an informal Destination Management Organization (DMO)

covering not only the eight neighboring villages in the Shouf, but the entire upper area and mountain

villages of the Shouf, in addition to some villages in the Beqaa like Aammiq, Qab Elias, Aitanit,

Kefraya and Ain Zebdeh.

• The Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve accomplished great achievements in the last five years and has

positioned itself as a pioneer destination for ecotourism. The reserve team is focusing on the seven

villages in the reserve’s buffer zone.

• The Horsh Ehden, Tannourine and Bentael Reserves are making slow progress but have great

potential to better develop and promote ecotourism, as well to contribute to local socio-economic

development in the surrounding villages.

Protected natural sites and river basins

The 21 protected natural sites and eight river basins designated by decisions of the Ministry of

Environment are all destinations for nature-based tourism activities, particularly hiking, camping, and

sightseeing (Table10). The majority cannot be considered as ecotourism destinations due to one or

many of the following reasons:

• Absence of management organizations, management plans, and ecotourism plans

• Absence of access control and visitors’ impact monitoring

• Inexistence of organized services and activities

• Inexistence of environmental education and awareness activities

• Existence of large-scale infrastructures and mass tourism in some of the sites

• Limited participation and involvement of local communities in the management of the site


TABLE 10: LEBANON’S PROTECTED NATURAL SITES AND RIVER BASINS

Site Main features Mohafazat Caza Decision no. Year

Al Qammoua area Mountain plateau, conifers forest Akkar - 19 2002

Al Makmel Mountain and Black Peak

(Qornet El Sawda)

Summit/peak, highland, rangeland plateau, water reservoir, snow cover, geological

features North Lebanon

Donnieh

Bcharreh 187 1998

Qadisha Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site (cultural category), river, Maronite religious heritage with historical and old monasteries and shrines, dense mixed forests, agricultural

terraces

North Lebanon Zgharta Bcharreh

151 1997

Al Qaraqir Valley River basin, mixed dense forest, agricultural terraces North Lebanon Zgharta 21 2002

Baatara Gorge in Chatine Geo-site, waterfall, sinkhole North Lebanon Batroun 8 2004

Ehmej natural site Forest, geological landforms Mount Lebanon Byblos 2878 2016

Coastal front rocks of Wata Slam Coastal ecosystem, geological feature Mount Lebanon Kesrouane 200 1997

Jabal Moussa Mixed forest, cultural heritage, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and protected forest by the Ministry of Agriculture

Mount Lebanon Kesrouane 7494 2012

Faqra natural stone bridge Geo-site, landmark Mount Lebanon Kesrouane 15/1 1995

Kassarat Grotto, Nabaieh Grotto, geo-site Mount Lebanon Matn 11949 2014

Forests of Ain El Hour – Daraya –

Debbiyeh – Berjein – Sheikh Osman – Deir El Moukhales – Ain w Zein – Dalboun

Valleys of Al Mal and Ainbal Kfara wells

Mediterranean mixed forests, valley and old wells Mount Lebanon Shouf 132 1998

Dalhoun forest Mediterranean mixed forest Mount Lebanon Shouf 22 2002

Rivers

Arka River River basin, cultural heritage Akkar - 188 1998

Al Jawz River River basin, cultural heritage North Lebanon Koura Batroun

22 1998

Ibrahim River River basin, cultural heritage Mount Lebanon Kesrouane Byblos

34 1997

Al Kalb River River basin, cultural heritage Mount Lebanon Kesrouane

Matn 97 1998

Al Damour River River basin Mount Lebanon Shouf 29 1998

Beirut River River basin, IBA Mount Lebanon Matn Baabda

130 1998

Al Awali River River basin South Lebanon Sidon 131 1998

Al Assi River River basin Baalbeck-Hermel Hermel 189 1998

Source: http://www.moe.gov.lb/protectedareas/categories.htm

http://www.moe.gov.lb/protectedareas/categories.htm


Table 11 presents the rural and nature based-tourism characteristics of Lebanon’s main protected natural sites and river basins.

TABLE 11: LEBANON’S PROTECTED NATURAL SITES AND RIVER BASINS

Site Main activities Access control

Infrastructure and services in the site and the surrounding area Role of municipalities and local communities

Potential to shift towards ecotourism*

Al Qammoua area

Hiking, camping No LMT sections 1-2, LMT guides and informal local guides Basic accommodation and F&B services with low-average quality of services

Private initiative by local youth groups such as Akkar Trail NGO

Medium

Qadisha valley – UNESCO World

Heritage site

Hiking, pilgrimage and spiritual

retreats

No

LMT sections 6-7, LMT guides and informal local guides Randomly blazed trails Informal and unorganized transportation systems from the villages to the valley

Good number of accommodation and F&B services in the villages with average to good quality of services

Increased awareness for the need to better protect and manage

tourism in the valley

High

Al Makmel

Mountain and Black Peak (Qornet El

Sawda)

Hiking, camping off-road, ski

touring, ski mobile, snowshoeing

No LMT section 8, LMT guides and informal local guides

Al Arz Ski Resort

Conflictual situation between municipalities regarding water resources use

Low

Al Qaraqir Valley Hiking, camping,

canyoning No

Basic accommodation and F&B services with medium to good quality of services

(Can be linked to Ehden Nature Reserve through hiking trail) None Low

Baatara Gorge in Chatine

Hiking, zip-line and ropes activities,

caving, climbing

Yes LMT section 10 and LMT-Douma side trail, LMT guides and informal local guides Poorly designed and unsustainable basic infrastructure

The site is managed by a local

NGO; the municipality is not active. Predominance of mass tourism

Medium

Ehmej natural

site

Hiking, children’s

park, snowshoeing, ski touring

No

LMT-Ehmej side trail, LMT guides and local guides Local network of blazed trails Micro-reserve for endemic species dedicated to research

Good number of accommodation and F&B services in the villages with average to good quality of services; proximity to Baatara Gorge, St. Charbel shrine in Annaya, the Laklouk ski resort and Laklouk plateau with a good number of

resorts and hotels

Increased awareness for the need

to better protect and manage tourism in the valley

High

Faqra natural

stone bridge Hiking, sightseeing Yes

LMT section 12, LMT guides and local guides

Large number of accommodation and F&B services with good-high quality of services Proximity to Mzar ski slopes Climbing and abseiling used to be practiced on and next to the site, but it was

banned by the Municipality of Kfardebiane. It could be revived under strict measures to ensure sustainability and environmental protection

Increased awareness for the need to better protect and manage

tourism in the valley, but predominance of mass tourism

Medium

Al Jawz River Hiking No Ongoing creation of hiking trails network along the riverbanks Limited awareness and knowledge about ecotourism

Medium

Ibrahim River Hiking, camping No

Good number of accommodation and F&B services in the villages with average

to good quality of services Organized and controlled access exists only in Chouane village under the management of Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve

None for municipalities Few private initiatives in Qartaba

Low, except for Chouane site

Al Kalb River None No Kayaking and rafting competitions used to be organized in Nahr El Kalb by clubs and the rafting federation

None Low

Al Assi River Rafting, camping No Basic accommodation and F&B services with low quality of services Formal and informal rafting clubs

None Low

Source: Combined by author, based on key informant interviews and previous field observations and visits to the sites

* The potential to shift towards more sustainable tourism and/or ecotourism is related to the readiness and willingness of municipalities and local communities to adopt and launch this process.


Protected forests

Lebanon’s protected forests designated by decisions of the Ministry of Agriculture are all destinations

for nature-based tourism activities, particularly hiking and camping (Table12).

TABLE 12: LEBANON’S PROTECTED FORESTS

Forest Trees and other characteristics Mohafazat Caza Decision no. Year

Al Qammoua Cedars, fir, juniper Akkar - 588 1996

Karm Chbat Cedars, fir, juniper Akkar - 589 1996

Bezbina Cedars, fir, juniper, oak Akkar - 591 1996

Sfineh Oak Akkar - 10 1997

Mrabbine and Wadi Jhannam Cedar, fire, juniper Akkar - 11 1997

Ain El Hokaylat and Qornet El Keif Cedars, fir, juniper, oak North Lebanon Donnieh 8 1997

Jord El Najs and Jabal El Arbaeen Cedars and juniper North Lebanon Donnieh 9 1997

Qnat Mixed North Lebanon Bcharreh 592 1996

Arz Bcharreh Cedars (part of Qadisha UNESCO World Heritage Site), religious

heritage

North Lebanon Bcharreh

499 1996 Hadath El Jebbeh Cedars North Lebanon Bcharreh

Tannourine Cedars North Lebanon Batroun

Jaj Cedars, karst geological formation, religious heritage

Mount Lebanon Byblos

Bkassine Pine South Lebanon Jezzine 3 1997

Chebaa valley Oak Nabatieh Hasbaya 174 1997

Cedar forest in Swaysi area Cedar and juniper Baalbeck-Hermel Hermel 587 1996


Similar to protected natural sites, protected forests cannot be considered ecotourism destinations

except for:

• The Arz Bcharreh cedars forest, which is annexed to the Qadisha UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The forest has access control with a short hiking trail. Despite its small area, the forest attracts a

large number of visitors due to its emblematic millenary cedar trees and spiritual value. Intensive

reforestation efforts have been taking place since the late 1990s in the arid lands surrounding the

area.

• The Hadath El Jebbeh forest, which constitutes an extension of the Tannourine cedars nature

reserve. The forest has two blazed hiking and snowshoeing trails. It is relatively well protected and

managed by the municipality and the local community members. There is no access control to this

forest.

• The Bkassine forest, which is the largest productive pine tree forest in the Middle East. It is owned

and managed by the Municipality of Bkassine. The LMT-Jezzine side trail passes through the forest

where hikers and nature lovers can spend time and/or sleep in a high-end forest resort.

Hima and IBAs

According to the SPNL, a Lebanese NGO specialized in nature conservation, the Hima is a community-

based approach used for the conservation of sites, species, habitats, and people in order to achieve the

sustainable use of natural resources. It originated over 1,500 years ago when it was spread along the

Arab Peninsula as a “tribal” system of sustainable management of natural resources. It was applied as a

system for organizing, maintaining, regulating, and utilizing natural pasture and rangelands in a way fitting

with ecosystems and local practices. It evolved with Islam, adding to it values and rules. Hima

management and decisions are made by the local communities themselves. SPNL is reviving the Hima

approach in collaboration with municipalities in order to promote the conservation of IBAs and



conserve the sustainable use of natural resources, among which ecotourism activities are introduced to

the Hima (Figure 12 and Figure 13).

FIGURE 12: LEBANON’S HIMA MAP FIGURE 13: LEBANON’S IBAS MAP

Source: https://issuu.com/spnl/docs/spnl_annual_report_2019

Ecotourism development in the 25 Hima of Lebanon varies from one region to another depending on

the level of involvement of municipalities and local communities, as well as the support provided by

SPNL and other local and national NGOs. The following table details the Hima across Lebanon.

TABLE 13: LEBANON’S HIMA

Hima Main features Municipalities/local

communities involvement

Level of ecotourism

development*

Menjez – Akkar Forest, archeological and religious heritage High High

Aandaket – Akkar Mixed forest, valley Medium Inexistence of visitors/activities

Charbine – Akkar Cedar and juniper forest Low Inexistence of visitors/activities

Maabour El Arid - Akkar Cedar and juniper forest Low Inexistence of visitors/activities

Anfeh – Koura, North Lebanon Marine, coastal biodiversity, traditional salinas High Medium

Byblos – Byblos, Mount Lebanon Marine and coastal biodiversity, sandy beach Medium Low

Akoura – Byblos, Mount Lebanon Highland, rangeland, juniper tress Medium Low

Tarchich – Baabda, Mount Lebanon Highland, rangelands Low Inexistence of visitors/activities

Ras El Maten – Baabda, Mount Lebanon Pine forest, valley Medium Low

Hammana – Baabda, Mount Lebanon Highland, geo-sites, waterfall High High

Kayfoun – Aley, Mount Lebanon Mixed forest Low Inexistence of visitors/activities

Kfarmatta – Aley, Mount Lebanon Mixed forest, river, geo-site Medium Low

Qaitouleh – Jezzine, South Lebanon Pine forest Medium Inexistence of visitors/activities

Roum – Jezzine, South Lebanon Pine forest Medium Inexistence of visitors/activities

Qolaileh – Tyre, South Lebanon Sandy beach, sea turtles nesting site Low Inexistence of visitors/activities

Mansourih – Tyre, South Lebanon Sandy beach, sea turtles nesting site Medium High

Ibl El Saqi – Marjayoun, Nabatieh Pine forest Medium Inexistence of visitors/activities

Qaraoun – West Beqaa, Beqaa Lake, agricultural plain High Inexistence of visitors/activities

Aitanit – West Beqaa, Beqaa Lake, agricultural lands, rangelands High Inexistence of visitors/activities

Ain Zebdeh – West Beqaa, Beqaa Highland, rangelands High Inexistence of visitors/activities

Kherbet Qanafar – West Beqaa, Beqaa Agricultural land, rangelands Medium Inexistence of visitors/activities

Anjar – Zahle, Beqaa Wetland, river and forest High Medium

https://issuu.com/spnl/docs/spnl_annual_report_2019


Kfar Zabad – Zahle Beqaa Wetland and agricultural lands Low Inexistence of visitors/activities

West Baalbeck – Zahle, Beqaa Rangelands Low Inexistence of visitors/activities

Fekha – West Beqaa, Beqaa Rangelands Low Inexistence of visitors/activities

Source: Combined by author, based on key informant interviews and previous field observations and visits to the sites

* The level of ecotourism development is related to the respect of ecotourism principles by local authorities and visitors.

Despite the existence of 15 IBAs assessed and officially declared by the international NGO BirdLife

International, in addition to several other sites suitable for bird watching, this activity is underexplored

in Lebanon. Even though some nature reserves and Hima claim that they offer bird watching for their

visitors, it is not done in a consistent and professional way. There is a lack of professional guides and

dedicated sites, as well as a lack of equipment and material. On the other hand, the Association for Bird

Conservation in Lebanon (ABCL) and the Lebanon Birdwatching Tours initiative are trying to promote

the activity for environmental awareness and educational purposes.

Private natural sites

Among a dozen of privately protected natural sites and forests, the Domaine de Taanayel20 offers

different types of nature-based tourism activities including hiking, biking, zip-lining, agro-tourism, a

farmers’ market, and many other nature-based and cultural events, noting that the majority of the

services and activities in the Domaine are accessible for people with reduced mobility21. The Domaine is

one of the most visited natural sites in Lebanon due to its large surface area, easy access, its suitability

for all ages and profiles, the high level of safety for families with children, its comprehensive services, a

wide variety of activities adapted to all ages, and a unique agricultural and natural landscape with its

attractive lake. The number of visits to the Domaine increased form 153,916 in 2016 to 183,484 in

2018; however, it registered a significant decrease by 27% in 2019 compared to 2018 due to the political

unrest of the last three months of the year and the road blockages in the Beqaa area. In 2020, the

number of visitors decreased by 50% compared to 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and several

lockdowns, and the subsequent closure of the site for long periods of time.

Geo-tourism is essentially “geological tourism”. The geological element focuses on geology and landscape and includes both

geological formations such as landforms, rock outcrops, rock types, sediments, caves, soils and crystals, and geological

processes such as volcanism, erosion, glaciation, etc. Geo-tourism includes tourist visiting, learning from, appreciating and

engaging in geo-sites. It is an integral part of UNESCO’s Global Geoparks program and is essential to geoparks development.

Geo-tourism adds to ecotourism’s principal focus on plants (flora) and animals (fauna) by adding a third dimension of the

physical and geological environment. Geo-tourism is growing around the world through the growth of UNESCO-designated

geoparks as well as independently in many natural areas22. Despite the rich geological features of Lebanon (hundreds of grottos,

caves, rock cavities, deep valleys, sinkholes, mountain and coastal cliffs, geological faults, and distinctive landforms/landscapes

from different geological eras) the geo-tourism potential is not explored in Lebanon. Many geological sites and features

constitute natural attractions for the domestic and international market (e.g., Baatara Gorge, Faqra natural stone bridge,

Raouche’s Pigeon Rocks, Jeita grotto, and Qadisha Grotto), yet they are not promoted as geo-tourism sites. On the other

hand, the Shouf Biosphere Reserve applied for the designation of a UNESCO Geopark in the Niha region and the Union of

Zgharta Municipalities is in the process of preparing a study to apply for the designation of a UNESCO Geopark in Ehden and

its surrounding area.

20 Detailed information about Domaine de Taanayel can be found on https://www.arcenciel.org/activities/domaine-de-taanayel/ 21 Domaine de Taanayel is managed by the Lebanese NGO Arcenciel, which is specialized in sustainable development including social and technical support for

people with reduced mobility. 22 http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/unesco-global-geoparks/

https://www.arcenciel.org/activities/domaine-de-taanayel/

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/unesco-global-geoparks/


The MOT’s role in the ecotourism sector is only promotional. The Ministry publishes promotional

material and brochures for the major nature reserves in Lebanon and includes them in the list of natural

sites and destinations23.

III.6.3 ADVENTURE TOURISM

Adventure tourism definition: “Adventure travel is a type of tourism, involving exploration or travel

with perceived (and possibly actual) risk, and potentially requiring specialized skills and physical exertion.

According to the U.S. based Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), adventure travel may be any

tourist activity, including two of the following three components: a physical activity, a cultural exchange

or interaction and engagement with nature” (Adventure Travel Trade Association, adventuretravel.biz)

Adventure tourism activities are typically grouped into two categories, hard and soft.

• Hard adventures involve extreme and often risky sporting activities in nature and remote areas

such as trekking across rugged terrain, mountain biking, motorized off-roading, spelunking and

caving, paragliding, hot air ballooning, bungee jumping, sky diving, base jumping, rock climbing,

abseiling, climbing a via ferrata, snowboarding, alpine skiing, ski touring, windsurfing, kite-surfing,

scuba diving, free diving, rafting, kayaking, canyoning, playing survival games, and wild camping.

• Soft adventures are leisurely, often educational, and do not involve risky and strenuous activities.

They include backpacking, hiking, camping, orienteering, geocaching, wildlife observation and bird

watching, cycling and biking, river or sea fishing, canoeing, sailing, snorkeling, stand-up paddling,

cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, and donkey riding. Other activities such as farm

visits, culinary and wine tours, architectural, historical and archeological tours, and religious/spiritual

pilgrimages are sometimes considered soft adventures, especially when happening in remote areas.

Adventure tourism activities are also classified under categories like land-based sports, air-based sports,

and water-based sports (sea, rivers and lakes), or winter/snow sports and summer sports.

Hard adventure activities in Lebanon

Trekking across rugged terrain and long-distance hiking is practiced mainly on the LMT and along

rugged mountain ranges and summits such as Mount Hermon (or Jabal El Sheikh), Mount Makmel -

Qornet El Saouda summit (in addition to six other summits at over 3,000 meters above sea level), and

Mount Sannine. Trekking and long-distance hiking is sometimes combined with wild camping and

bivouacking. In addition to the LMT thru-hikes (crossing the LMT in one month) organized by the LMTA

twice per year, very few specialized tour operators organize such activities (e.g., 33 North, Ibex, Liban

Trek).

Mountain biking is practiced by very few Lebanese or foreign24 cyclists on an individual level in

Lebanon. There are no tour operators specialized in this activity. The Lebanese Cycling Federation

organizes yearly mountain biking competitions and races for the 16 registered cycling clubs and

independent cyclists. The LMTA mentions on its website the sections that are suitable for mountain

biking and is studying the possibility of promoting this activity on the LMT more professionally.

Spelunking and caving have been practiced in Lebanon since the 1950s. The country is known for its

rich geological heritage, with over 20 caves and a large number of sinkholes and gorges. Today there are

23 MOT promotional brochure for nature reserves and ecotourism:

http://mot.gov.lb/Content/uploads/Publication/200720112300000~reserves%20booklet%20wide.pdf 24 In 2019 the Red Bull athlete Kenny Belaey biked the entire LMT from north to south and produced a short video about his adventure that was published in April

2020 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOcSF-qbO_A&t=1s

https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/water-sports/surfing.htm

https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/water-sports/scuba.htm

https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/jerusalem-syndrome.htm

https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/jerusalem-syndrome.htm

http://mot.gov.lb/Content/uploads/Publication/200720112300000~reserves%20booklet%20wide.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOcSF-qbO_A&t=1s


four registered caving clubs and associations25 that organize professional outings to most of Lebanon’s

caves and sinkholes, and expeditions to discover new ones. Their activities are open only for their

members. From a touristic and recreational perspective, caving activities are organized by dozens of

formal tour operators and informal groups/guides. The Roueis cave in Majdel Akoura village is the major

destination for amateur caving.

Paragliding/paramotor has been practiced since the early 1990s in Lebanon. According to Lebanese

law, this outdoor sports activity is organized by clubs registered at the Ministry of Youth and Sports,

supervised by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (providing basic safety training), and controlled

by the Lebanese Army (providing a mandatory permit for each flight). There are four registered clubs

for paragliding in Lebanon including Club Thermique, Exit to Nature, Paragliding Lebanon, Cedars

Paragliding School, and three informal clubs that applied for registration at the Ministry of Youth and

Sports, and that operate based on permits from the Lebanese Army26. From a tourism and recreational

perspective, instructors from all clubs provide tandem paragliding and paramotor flights for individuals

(both from the domestic and foreign market). The Ghosta-Jounieh flight overlooking Harissa and the

Jounieh bay is the most popular one. Other locations for paragliding include Meziara, Bcharreh-Cedars,

Laklouk, and Hammana. The access to take-off and landing spots is regulated by the Union of Kesrouane

Municipalities in the case of Ghosta-Jounieh, whereas in the case of Meziara, the lack of control by the

municipality is creating conflict over the use of take-off/landing spots between different clubs/instructors.

Hot air ballooning has witnessed a few trials over the last few years in the Beqaa plains, more

specifically near the Aammiq wetland. This activity is not yet available for recreational and touristic

purposes in Lebanon.

Rock climbing and bouldering is possible as a result of Lebanon’s geological landscape, which offers

spectacular mountain and sea cliffs suitable for the development of climbing and bouldering activities.

Professional rock climbing started in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the development of the first

climbing sites in the villages of Tannourine and Chatine next to the Baatara Gorge by professional

French instructors. Since then, new crags have been bolted all around Lebanon by dozens of local

climbers with the help of foreign climbers visiting or living in Lebanon. Today, there are two official

rock-climbing associations in Lebanon: Rock Climbing Lebanon and the Lebanese Climbing Association

(LCA). The LCA was founded in 2012 with the aim of developing and promoting rock climbing,

mountaineering, and outdoor culture in the country. LCA members work on a voluntary basis to 1)

Introduce and promote rock climbing in different regions, schools, villages; 2) Secure rock climbing areas

in coordination with municipalities; 3) Develop new routes and sectors; 4) Raise awareness on climbing

ethics, safety and best practices; 5) Protect the environment around rock climbing sites; and 6) Organize

yearly competitions and workshops with professionals. According to the LCA, there are 16 climbing and

bouldering sites in Lebanon of different types and grades. The most renowned is in Tannourine, where

the municipality is trying to organize access, guarantee safety, and promote the site as a world-class

destination for climbing27. From a touristic and recreational perspective, very few tour operators and

informal mountain guides organize climbing activities for domestic tourists, whereas international

tourists who practice climbing in Lebanon are mostly professional climbers invited by their Lebanese

25 Spéléo Club du Liban - SCL (http://www.speleoliban.org), Association Libanaise d’Etudes Spéléologiques - ALES (http://www.alesliban.org), Groupe d’Etudes et de

Recherches Souterraines du Liban - GERSL (http://www.cavinglebanon.com), and Spéléo Club de Wadi Al-Arayech. 26 www.clubthermique.org; www.paraglidinglebanon.com 27 Detailed information about the LCA and climbing sites is available on www.lebaneseclimbingassociation.org

http://www.speleoliban.org/

http://www.alesliban.org/

http://www.cavinglebanon.com/

http://www.clubthermique.org/

http://www.paraglidinglebanon.com/

http://www.lebaneseclimbingassociation.org/


peers or by the two existing associations. In 2015, Red Bull athlete and climber David Lama climbed the

famous Baatara Gorge and produced a video28.

Alpine skiing and snowboarding are practiced in the five ski resorts of Lebanon29. These resorts

welcome a large number of visitors but operate for a short season (two to three months). In the last 10

years, the slopes did not open for two seasons due to insufficient snow cover, which shows their

vulnerability towards climate change.

Ski touring is not well developed and promoted in Lebanon. The activity is practiced by very few

people. Club Thermique is the only organization offering limited ski touring packages for international

tourists (mainly from France, Switzerland, and Austria). Despite the activity’s increasing demand by the

European market, the club is unable to further develop it due to the lack of professional instructors and

mountain guides. On the other hand, the nature multi-sport association PolyLiban (ADPL) has been

promoting ski touring among the Lebanese outdoor communities since its inception in 2008 through the

organization of one-day ski touring events on a non-profit basis.

Ski touring is a type of skiing that takes place in unmarked and unpatrolled areas outside a ski resort. Also known as

backcountry skiing (mostly in the United States), it is a challenging and physically demanding form of skiing, as well as a great

way of exploring remote mountain areas. Ski touring involves going uphill with special skis and boots using sealskins, a piece of

fabric attached to the base of skis to prevent them from sliding back when climbing up a slope. Before skiing downhill, skins are

removed. Ski touring trips can range from a one-day activity to a several-day ski traverse. Multi-day ski touring trips involve high

mountaineering competencies and the ability to spend the night in snow camps or in mountain huts.

Via ferrata is not well developed in Lebanon. There is only one basic site in Akoura that lacks proper

equipment, management, and access control. The site is used by one or two informal mountain guides

who organize this activity for amateurs.

Via ferrata, an Italian term which means “iron path”, is a protected climbing route, built with a steel cable rail fixed to the

rock, metal steps, ladders, suspension bridges, and zip wires. The term defines both the route and the outdoor activity, which

consists of progressing through the via ferrata by using a harness clipped onto the wire. Half-way between scrambling and rock

climbing, via ferratas allow non-expert climbers to reach high altitudes in a safe way, using minimum equipment.

Sea-based sports activities

• Scuba diving is practiced along the Lebanese coast, mainly between Jounieh and Anfeh, as well as in

Tyre. Sea-based activities are organized for the domestic market primarily by clubs affiliated with

major beach resorts and diving centers. The majority of instructors working with these clubs and

centers have international diving licenses and provide diving courses and recreational diving sessions.

There also exists a national federation for diving, the Lebanese Federation of Diving & Rescue, but

no officially registered clubs at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. From a tourism and recreational

perspective, Lebanon is not an attractive destination for diving due to sea water pollution. Few clubs

and diving centers provide recreational diving try-outs.

• Other sea-based water sports such as windsurfing, kite-surfing, stand-up paddling (also considered a

soft adventure activity), and sea kayaking emerged in the last five years in Lebanon, especially with

28 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPIvFFKwXZM 29 Arz ski resort, Kfardebiane Mzar ski resort, Faqra club ski resort, Zaarour ski resort, Laklouk ski resort.

https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/water-sports/scuba.htm

https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/water-sports/surfing.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPIvFFKwXZM


the creation of specialized clubs between Byblos and Batroun. These clubs offer courses and

sessions for the domestic market and organize seasonal events. One tour operator, Routes LB,

organizes sea kayaking and stand-up paddling for recreational purposes in Batroun.

River-based sports activities

• Rafting is one of the most popular summer activities in Lebanon. It is practiced in Al Assi river in

Hermel where nearly10 informal clubs offer recreational rafting activities for thousands of visitors

every year, mostly from the domestic market. These clubs are not affiliated with the Lebanese

Canoe-Kayak Federation since they provide only recreational activities and do not organize races or

competition events.

The federation has doubts about the safety measures adopted by these clubs and considers that they

should be regulated and controlled by the municipality. Recreational and professional canoe-kayak

activities used to be organized in the Litani river in South Lebanon and Al Kalb river in Kesrouane,

but those have stopped in the last few years due to the high levels of pollution in the rivers.

• Canyoning is another freshwater activity practiced in rivers with steep cascades and waterfalls. The

main locations where canyoning is practiced for recreational purpose are Jezzine and Hammana. A

very limited number of professional instructors (approximately 10) and two tour operators (33

North and Lebanese Adventure) offer this activity for amateurs. Other potential locations include

Nahr Ibrahim, Yahchouch, Nahr El Jawz, Wadi El Qraqir, and Akkar.

Wild camping is practiced everywhere in the Lebanese mountains and along riverbanks. Only two tour

operators provide wild winter camps on snow.

Nature-based multi-sport events include biathlons (swimming and running or cycling) and triathlons

(swimming, running and cycling) races organized by the Lebanese Triathlon Federation, and a non-

competitive advanced Polyathlon des Cèdres (sea rafting, swimming, cycling, archery, trekking, and wild

camping) organized by the PolyLiban Association (ADPL) and targeting Lebanese youth and foreigners30.

Motorized off-roading includes 4X4 cars, snowmobiles, ATVs, and UTVs. Snowmobiles, ATVs, and

UTVs are available for rent in mountain areas such as Bcharreh and Kfardebiane. Long-distance guided

tours are organized by informal guides on the Mount Lebanon range. These activities are considered a

source of pollution in the mountains. Their organizers and practitioners tend to have very low sensitivity

towards ecology, and in the region of Bcharreh they constitute a major threat on newly reforested areas

and create conflicts with the municipality and environmental activists.

Soft adventure activities in Lebanon

Hiking and backpacking are by far the most widespread nature-based activities in Lebanon. One-day

hiking excursions are organized every weekend by 10 specialized tour operators and over 70 informal

tour organizers primarily targeting the domestic market. The main hiking destinations and services are:

• The 27 sections of the LMT extending over 470 kilometers in addition to 50 kilometers of LMT side

trails. By the end of 2020, around 90% of the LMT was completely blazed. Since its creation in 2008,

the LMTA has been exerting its efforts on protecting and maintaining the trail in cooperation with

local communities and municipalities. However, due to environmental degradation (open dumpsites,

forest fires, the pavement of agricultural roads, landslides, and the conversion of arable lands into

agricultural lands in a non-sustainable way), the LMTA team has had to deviate and re-delineate

30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S70zl0CIMw&t=4s


around 300 kilometers of the original trail between 2010 and 2020. The LMT sections are accessible

for free and can be hiked with or without local guides, with or without tour operators/organizers.

There are 27 guides along the LMT (one guide for each section). These guides received a series of

training provided by the LMTA community development committee and by external experts and are

therefore featured as “LMT guides” on the association’s website. Other local guides, hiking guides

and/or mountain guides walk on the LMT without being featured or recognized by the association.

In both cases, local guides, hiking guides, and mountain guides do not have any legal status as is the

case with licensed tour guides working in conventional tourism. The LMTA and USEIL are

cooperating to solve this issue in coordination with the Syndicate of Tourist Guides and the MOT.

While there is an official rate for the licensed tour guides (180,000 LBP per day), local guides and

hiking guides do not have a fixed rate. Before the economic crisis, the majority of local guides were

abiding by fees suggested by the LMTA and ranging between 100,000 LBP and 150,000 LBP. Since

October 2019, local guides have been charging between 150,000 LBP and 500,000 LBP per day,

which is creating confusion on the market.

• Nearly 500 kilometers of delineated trails inside nature reserves and in their buffer areas and

villages. These trails have access control and can be walked with or without nature reserve guides,

and with or without tour operators/organizers. Informal hiking and mountain guides can also access

these trails. The entrance fee to nature reserves and their hiking trails varies between 3,000 LBP and

10,000 LBP per person.

• Over 650 kilometers of trails formally created and delineated by municipalities and local NGOs

using different standards and criteria with limited maintenance and protection, and informal trails

used extensively by tour operators and organizers (excluding the LMT section and trails linking

nature reserves to surrounding villages). These trails are accessible for free and doable with or

without guides and tour operators/organizers (Table 14).

TABLE 14: TRAILS OUTSIDE NATURE RESERVES, AND EXCLUDING LMT SECTIONS/SIDE TRAILS

Caza Trails Approximate length (km)

Blazing/ signage

Management/promotion Protection

Akkar

Droub Wadi Oudine and Wadi Heslnebe between Aandaket and Qobayat

20 Partial Council of Environment Qobayat and LRI

Medium

Akkar trails linking villages, valleys and forests 50 None Akkar Trail NGO Medium

Darb Menjez* 50 None Municipality High

Donnieh Donnieh trails linking villages, valleys and forests 30 None Donnieh Trail group Low

Zgharta

Wadi Qadisha trails

Jabal El Makmel trails

50 Partial

Union of municipalities, Qadisha Heritage

Association, Cedar Mountain Foundation, Qadisha Management

Committee, Maronite church and monasteries

Medium

Bcharreh 25 None None Low

Batroun

Nahr Wadi El Jaouz trail 20 None None Low

Darb El Msayelha 5 None None Medium

Bchaaleh trails* 15 Yes Municipality Medium

Wadi Harba trail 5 None Wadi Harba Association Medium

Byblos

Ishtar trail in Aalmat 8 Yes AFDC Aalmat unit High

Darb Fatre* 6 Yes Municipality of Fatreh Medium

Droub Ghalboun 6 None Municipality of Ghalboun Medium

Ehmej network of trails 20 Partial Municipality of Ehmej

Arz Ehmej Association, LRI High

Akoura lakes trail 10 None None Low

Kesrouane

Kfour thematic trails 10 Yes Municipalities, Kesrouane Union of Municipalities, local NGOs, scouts, LRI

Low to Medium

Wadi El Salib trails 18 Yes

Darb El Qamar 4 Yes

Darb El Sama 3 Partial


Caza Trails Approximate

length (km)

Blazing/

signage Management/promotion Protection

Darb Hayata 8 Yes

Dabr El Hakleh Dlebta 5 Yes

Darb El Sendyane and Darb Jdoudna in Chahtoul 12 Partial

Darb Chabrouh dam 10 None

Darb Bzoummar 5 Partial

Ouyoun El Simane highland trails 15 None

Matn

Darb El Khinchara* 6 Yes Municipality of Khinchara Medium

Bekfaya El Naas trail 8 None Municipality of Bekfaya Low

Dhour El Choueir trail 6 Partial Municipality of Choueir High

Sannine summit trail 12 None None Low

Tarik El Atrak Broummana 6 None None Low

Baabda

Dard Arsoun, Deir El Harf, El Kneisseh 20 None None Low

Falougha Kneisseh summit trail 15 None None Low

La Martine valley trails 15 None None Low

Aley Kfarmatta El Fezer trail 15 None None Low

Rouaisset El Naaman, Rechmaya trail 15 None Municipality of Rechmaya Medium

Shouf

Baaqline river trail 10 None None Low

Jahliyeh river trail 5 None None Low

Mokhtara, Barouk river trail 10 Partial Shouf Biosphere Reserve High

Jezzine Kfarhouna trail 8 None St. Jean Monastery Medium

Jezzine villages network of trails 20 Partial Union of Jezzine Municipalities

Medium

Tyre Wadi Zebqine trail 10 None None Low

Bint Jbeil Ain Ebel trail* 15 Yes Municipality of Ain Ebel and local NGO

Medium

Hasbaya Kawkaba olives and religious trail 10 None Municipality of Kawkaba Medium

Marjayoun Ibl El Saqi trail 5 None Hima Ibl El Saqi Medium

West Beqaa

Darb El Karam network of trails* 20 None Food Heritage Foundation Medium

Qaraoun trail 5 None Municipality of Qaraoun Medium

Rachaya Jabal Haramoun summit trail 15 None None Low

Baalbeck-Hermel

Jord El Hermel trails 30 None None Low

Darb El Ain Ainata* 5 None Municipalities, Droub Boukaat Loubnan initiative

Medium

Chlifa Yammoune trail 15 None Medium * Trails established and/or supported through USAID-funded programs.

Source: Compiled by author based on personal data collection and online maps consultations

Camping sites, forest bungalows and forest resorts are widespread in Lebanon. There are over 60

camping sites, forest bungalows, and forest resorts spread across the country with the majority located

in Mount Lebanon and North Lebanon. Some sites combine camping and bungalows and many of the

facilities offer additional services and activities including F&B, venues for events, and outdoor activities

such as zip-lines, rope games, and hiking trails. They are mostly visited by families, groups of friends, and

couples from the domestic market visiting rural and natural areas for retreats, outdoor activities or

relaxation. The majority of these facilities, especially camping sites, are not registered and do not follow

specific criteria and standards, which makes their differentiation and classification into distinct categories

based on the availability and level of services difficult.

Camping sites: Balloot Camping, Ehden Adventures, Koura Camping, Oliview, Douma Camping, Pine Straw, Tafla, Mayfouk-

Ram Camping, Nirvana, Chahtoul Camping, The Bunker, Swings Camp, Le Camp, Freiha Valley, Valley Camp, Cedars Ground

Campsite, Rockrabbit Camping, Camping Ain Zaarour, Pinea Campus Jezzine, La Serninidad, The Raven Campground,

Sharewood Camp, Glamping Lebanon, The Cliff Camp, Heaven Ecoland, Bel Tabi3a, Wanderlust Riverside, Cheer Up Camping,

Wildlings.

Forest resorts and bungalows: Hayrouna Aytou, Oakland, Jannati, Natureland, Bzebdine Hidden Valley, River Zen, HillHout

Village, La Maison de la Fôret, Arz Ehmej, Arsoun Village, Jabalna Eco-lodge, Eagle’s Nest, Saghbine Bungalows, Kawkaba Eco-

village, Fôret du Lac, Uzit Cabin, JEE Cabin, La Reserve Horsh Ehden, Skylodge, Zorba Lodges, L’Kaa Country Lodge, Pine

House, Trinity5 Faraya, Qammouaa Bungalows, Wood Hills Resort, Rabieh Bungalows, The Chill Hill Experience, Odom

Retreat, Odin Mzaar, Bkerzay.

Eco-lodges (with eco-friendly construction and sustainable practices and services): Dmit Eco-village, Al Jord Eco-lodge,

Lazzab Eco-lodge, Halbousa Eco-dome, Taanayel Eco-lodge.


Cycling and biking is becoming a widespread activity in Lebanon practiced by a large number of

individuals, informal groups and clubs. There are only two tour operators specialized in this activity,

Routes LB and Cycling Circle, that organize short to medium distance cycling tours in specific areas of

Lebanon such as the coastal line between Byblos and Anfeh and the Shouf mountains. ADPL is the

leading organization in Lebanon that promotes long distance cycling and biking events, combined with

other outdoor sports such as camping, climbing and hiking. It also adds a cultural dimension to it

through the discovery of hidden attractions in rural and remote areas. Since its creation in 2008, ADPL

organizes the PolyLiban Grand Tour, a five to seven-day non-competitive and not-for-profit cycling tour

around Lebanon, targeting Lebanese youth and foreigners31.

Additionally, the Lebanese Cycling Federation organizes yearly road biking competitions and races for

the 16 registered cycling clubs and independent cyclists.

Cross country skiing is not well developed nor is it promoted in Lebanon.

Horseback riding is organized in a few areas in Lebanon, specifically in mountain and forest resorts,

camping sites and specialized clubs.

Farm visits, culinary and wine tours see Cf. sections III.6.4 and III.6.5.

The MOT’s role with regards to adventure tourism is only promotional. The Ministry publishes

promotional material and brochures for major activities in Lebanon with a focus on biking, caving, diving,

hiking, paragliding, rafting, rock climbing, and surfing32. There are four overarching challenges hindering

the development of adventure tourism in Lebanon:

• Absence of clear classification, criteria, and standards for different outdoor sports activities

• Absence of a specific legal framework for adventure activities and outdoor sports with touristic and

recreational purposes, and the nonexistence of national certification/accreditation schemes for

service providers (specialized tour operators, clubs, and guides)

• Inconsistent quality and lack of trust, especially when it comes to international travelers and when

service providers do not have certificates and insurance policies

• Lack of awareness on sustainability issues for both service providers and activities practitioners,

except for a few service providers, tour operators, and associations such as:

- Domaine de Taanayel, Chahtoul Camping, Taanayel Eco-lodge, Al Jord Eco-lodge

- 33 North, Lebanese Adventure, Ibex, Liban Trek, Responsible Mobilities, Tourleb, Routes LB

- Arcenciel, ADPL, Lebanese Climbing Association, SPNL, LMTA

III.6.4 AGRO-TOURISM

There is no universal definition for agro-tourism. The University of California’s Small Farm Center

defines agro-tourism as “the act of visiting a working farm or any agricultural, horticultural, or

agribusiness operation for the purpose of enjoyment, education, or active involvement in the activities of

the farm or operation.” According to the AgroTourNet, agro-tourism comprises all forms of tourism in

which tourists visit farms with the possibility of staying overnight and experiencing farming and various

forms of rural life at close hand. Agro-tourism includes the interpretation of the natural, cultural,

31 PolyLiban Grand Tour documentary: https://vimeo.com/437378448 32 MOT promotional brochure for outdoor activities in Lebanon

http://mot.gov.lb/Content/uploads/Publication/200921013136711~Outdoor%20Activities%20Booklet%20S%20(1).pdf

https://vimeo.com/437378448

http://mot.gov.lb/Content/uploads/Publication/200921013136711~Outdoor%20Activities%20Booklet%20S%20(1).pdf


historical, and environmental assets of the land and the people working on it. Agro-tourism also offers

small-scale farmers the possibility of diversifying and generating additional income through touristic on-

farm activities to help balance the decreasing income from agricultural activities.

Interest for agro-tourism is increasing in Lebanon from both the demand side (domestic and

international travelers) and the supply side (farmers and farm owners). Similar to other types of rural

and nature-based tourism, there is no clear classification, standards and criteria for agro-tourism

services and activities in Lebanon, and the sector does not have a regulatory framework. The majority of

agro-tourism facilities are located in the Beqaa and in Mount Lebanon. Table 15 presents existing agro-

tourism offers in Lebanon and their characteristics. Among the 18 agro-tourism facilities are the

following:

• 9 operate on a seasonal basis and 9 open throughout the year

• 15 provide F&B services upon reservation

• 12 provide educational activities for children

• 7 provide fruit or vegetable picking activities

• 5 provide accommodation services in the farm or in annexed guesthouses

• 4 have animal farms and/or sell dairy products

• 4 provide yoga and retreats

• 3 provide specialized workshops

• 3 provide biking activities

In addition to the facilities mentioned in the below table, dozens of individual small farmers, shepherds,

beekeepers, and cooperatives collaborate with nature reserves, tour operators, and NGOs to welcome

visitors on their premises for a short period of time to learn about farming and to participate in some

activities.

TABLE 15: CHARACTERISTICS OF MAJOR AGRO-TOURISM FACILITIES IN LEBANON

Facility Mohafazat, Caza, Village

Main farming activities

Scale Services and activities Seasonality Online marketing

Al Haush

Agritourism

Beqaa, Zahle,

Haush El Ghanem

Vegetables, forage crops, fruit trees, grapes, rangeland

Large

Luxury

accommodation F&B, biking, workshops, retreats,

yoga

All year

www.alhaush.com Facebook: @elhaush Insta: al_haush

Google map & TripAdvisor: Al Haush Agritourism

Domaine Taanayel

Beqaa, Zahle, Taanayel

Fruit trees, grapes, cow farm, dairy

products

Large

F&B, biking, walking, lake fishing, educational activities,

zip-line, horseback riding, cultural events, farmers market (annex

accommodation in Taanayel Eco-lodge)

All year

www.arcenciel.org/activit

ies/domaine-de-taanayel/ Facebook: @DomaineDeTaanayel

Insta: domainedetaanayel Google map: Domaine de

Taanayel

M P’tits Fruits

Beqaa, Zahle, Saghbine

Berries Small Berries picking Seasonal

www.mptitsfruits.com

Facebook: @mptitsfruits Insta: mptitsfruits

Mika Domain

Mount Lebanon, Byblos, Qartaba

Fruit trees Small Fruits picking Seasonal

www.mikalb.com

Insta: mika_domain Airbnb: Mika Domain

Guita Bed&Bloom

Mount Lebanon, Byblos, Majdel

Akoura

Fruit trees, agro-processing

Medium Guesthouse, F&B, hiking, fruit picking,

yoga and retreats

Seasonal

www.guita.co Facebook: @GuitaBedAndBloom Insta: guitabedandbloom

http://www.alhaush.com/

http://www.arcenciel.org/activities/domaine-de-taanayel/

http://www.arcenciel.org/activities/domaine-de-taanayel/

http://www.mptitsfruits.com/

http://www.mikalb.com/

http://www.guita.co/


Facility Mohafazat, Caza,

Village

Main farming

activities Scale Services and activities Seasonality Online marketing

Google map & TripAdvisor & Airbnb:

Guita Bed&Bloom https://www.hotelibanais.com/travel/guesthouses/g

uita/

Adonis Valley

Mount Lebanon, Fatreh

Vegetable, agro-processing

Small F&B, educational activities

All year

www.adonisvalley.com Facebook:

@AdonisValley Insta: adonisvalley Google map: Adonis

Valley

La Vallée Blanche

Mount Lebanon, Byblos, Ehmej

Cow farm, dairy products

Small Farm stay, F&B, educational activities

Seasonal

Facebook: @lavalleeblanchefarm

Insta: albaydar.lavalleeblanche Google map: Al Baydar

by La Vallée Blanche

Chabrouh Eco Farm

Mount Lebanon, Faraya

Fruits and vegetables

Small F&B, educational activities, workshops

Seasonal

Facebook: @chabrouhecofarm

Insta: chabrouhecofarm Google map: Chabrouh Eco Farm

Little Reed Mount Lebanon, Baabda, Ksaibeh


Small

F&B, educational

activities, donkey riding

Seasonal

Facebook: @Littlereedlb Insta: littlereed.lb Google map &

TripAdvisor: Little Reed

Mar Chaaya Farm

Mount Lebanon, Matn, Mar Chaaya

Fruits, vegetables, dairy products

Medium Educational activities, shop

All year

Facebook:

@FermeMarChaaya Insta: fermemarchaaya Google map: Ferme Mar Chaaya TripAdvisor:

Ferme Mar Chaaya

Liv the Farm Mount Lebanon, Matn, Broummana

Vegetables Small F&B, educational activities, yoga,

retreats

All year Facebook: @Livthefarm Insta: livthefarm

Google map: LIV

Cezar Projects

Mount Lebanon, Shouf, Barouk


Small

Guesthouse, F&B, picking, educational

activities, donkey riding, horseback riding, hiking, yoga and

retreats, workshops

All year

www.cezarprojects.com Facebook: @cezarprojects

Insta: cezar_projects Google map: Farmville Barouk

Airbnb: Cezar's Guest House

Eco Khalleh Mount Lebanon,

Shouf, Baaqline

Fruits and

vegetables Small

F&B, fruit picking,

educational activities Seasonal

Facebook: @ecokhalleh

Insta: ecokhalleh

Abou Saab Farm

Mount Lebanon, Shouf, Ain Zhalta


Small F&B, fruit picking, educational activities

Seasonal Facebook: The farm of Abou Saab brothers

Lavender Hill

Retreat

Mount Lebanon,

Shouf, Aatrine

Fruits, vegetables,

herbs Medium

Guesthouse, F&B, fruit picking, beekeeping,

educational activities, workshops, retreats

All year

Facebook: @lavenderhillretreat

Insta: lavenderhillretreat Google map: Lavender Hill Retreat

Airbnb: Lavender Hill Retreat

Parcours des

Saveurs

Mount Lebanon,

Baabda, Kfarchima

Fruits, vegetables,

animal farm Small

F&B, picking, shop,

educational activities All year

www.parcoursdessaveurs

.com Facebook: @parcoursdessaveurs

Insta: parcoursdessaveurs Google map & TripAdvisor: Parcours des saveurs

The Good Thymes

South Lebanon, Jezzine, Kfarhouna

Herbs and vegetables

Small F&B, events Seasonal www.thegoodthymes.me Facebook:

@thegoodthymes

http://www.adonisvalley.com/

http://www.cezarprojects.com/

http://www.parcoursdessaveurs.com/

http://www.parcoursdessaveurs.com/


Facility Mohafazat, Caza,

Village

Main farming

activities Scale Services and activities Seasonality Online marketing

Insta: thegoodthymes Google map: The Good

Thymes

Saint Jacques

Farm

North Lebanon,

Batroun, Douma Ducks farm Medium Farm visit, F&B All year

www.lafermestjacques.com

Facebook: @LaFermeStJacques

Bioland North Lebanon,

Batroun, Sghar Vegetables Medium F&B All year

www.bioland.me

Facebook: @Bioland.Lebanon Insta: biolandlebanon

Google map: Bioland

Source: Compiled by author

III.6.5 GASTRONOMY AND WINE TOURISM

Gastronomy and wine tourism definition: The Committee on Tourism and Competitiveness

(CTC) of UNWTO defines gastronomy tourism as “a type of tourism activity which is characterized by

the visitor’s experience linked with food and related products and activities while travelling. Along with

authentic, traditional, and/or innovative culinary experiences, gastronomy tourism may also involve

other related activities such as visiting the local producers, participating in food festivals and attending

cooking classes. Whilst Eno-tourism (Wine Tourism), as a sub-type of Gastronomy Tourism, refers to

tourism whose purpose is visiting vineyards, wineries, tasting, consuming and/or purchasing wine, often

at or near the source” (World Tourism Organization, unwto.org).

Gastronomy tourism: Culinary heritage is an integral part of Lebanese cultural identity. The Lebanese

gastronomy culture is shaped by fertile agricultural lands, landscape and ecological diversity, different

microclimates, and social traditions, alongside ethnographic and community diversity. Throughout

history, Lebanese communities produced and developed a variety of fresh, dried, preserved, and cooked

food, as well as wine and Arak. The different civilizations that passed through Lebanon influenced

Lebanese cuisine, known primarily for its healthy Mediterranean diet, freshness, regional specialties, and

variety of dishes or mezze33.

Lebanon’s rural areas have a large number of restaurants, snack bars, and bakeries offering basic

traditional Lebanese food. The majority of these F&B services are located around natural and cultural

attractions. The gastronomy offer of these conventional restaurants is limited to basic and common

traditional Lebanese dishes and does not explore the wide variety of specialty dishes that can be found

in each region. On the other hand, culinary tourism projects and initiatives focusing on local specialties

linked to the terroir and to its agricultural heritage, as well as to social traditions, began emerging in the

last few years in different rural areas. In many cases, these initiatives are linked or integrated within

existing ecotourism products and agro-tourism facilities; the latter can also be considered gastronomy

service providers when they offer local products and food specialties. Service providers and initiatives

specialized in gastronomy tourism include:

• Darb El Karam, a food tourism network initiated by the FHF. It connects five villages in the Higher

Shouf and four villages in West Beqaa (Figure 14). Thematic seasonal packages are proposed in the

concerned villages where visitors can participate in picking and preservation activities and eat at the

houses of food producers and in tables d’hôtes where they enjoy local culinary specialties. By putting

33 A large array of small dishes that includes salads, dips, sausages and variety meats, vegetarian dishes cooked in olive oil, crudités, pickles, nuts, and pastries. Mezze

dishes are all served at the same time for lunch or dinners.


visitors in contact with farmers, shepherds, food producers, and beekeepers, Darb El Karam aims to

raise awareness among tourists about the origin of an ingredient or a traditional dish and its cultural

and emotional ties to the destination and terroir, while diversifying the income of the hosts through

tourism. (www.food-heritage.org/darb-el-karam/)

• Tawlet is a network of traditional and specialty food restaurants initiated and managed by Souk El

Tayeb. Tawlet is based on a social business model where profit is generated to support farmers,

women, cooks, and producers. Tawlet has six restaurants in Beirut, Aammiq, Douma, Deir El

Qamar, Jrebta-Biomass, and Sidon. Depending on their location, Tawlet restaurants open on a

seasonal or permanent basis and offer a traditional Lebanese buffet prepared by women from

different regions.

• Taste Lebanon is a U.K.-based tour operator focusing on organizing food and culinary tours in

urban and rural areas of Lebanon. (www.tastelebanon.co.uk)

• Le Passport Culinaire is a company specialized in gastronomy and wine tours in rural areas and

mountain villages in Lebanon, as well as in Europe. It also offers cooking and tasting workshops.

(www.lepasseportculinaire.com).

• Slow Food Beirut is an NGO specialized in documenting and promoting specialty food and the

culinary heritage of Lebanon. (www.slowfoodbeirut.com)

• Fair Trade Lebanon is an NGO specialized in the promotion of Lebanese specialty preserved food

and supporting farmers and cooperatives to implement Fair Trade principles and designated Fair

Trade villages. (www.fairtradelebanon.org)

• Lebanon Mountain Trail Association: The LMTA is documenting and capitalizing on the food and

culinary heritage along the trail and is supporting local farmers, cooperatives, and guesthouses to

valorize their food culture through tourism services and activities.

http://www.food-heritage.org/darb-el-karam/

http://www.tastelebanon.co.uk/

http://www.lepasseportculinaire.com/

http://www.slowfoodbeirut.com/

http://www.fairtradelebanon.org/


FIGURE 14: MAP OF DARB EL KARAM

Source: https://food-heritage.org/darb-el-karam/

Table 16 presents the main food specialties of Lebanon and their corresponding terroir.

TABLE 16: EXAMPLES OF FOOD SPECIALTIES AND THEIR TERROIR IN RURAL LEBANON34 Caza Food specialty (terroir-village)

Akkar Olive oil, pomegranate molasses, sumac, edible plants, shanklish

Donnieh Fruit jam, honey

Zgharta Over 20 varieties of raw and cooked kebbeh in Zgharta-Ehden, darfieh cheese

Koura Olive oil, pomegranate molasses, seafood (Anfeh)

Bcharreh Fruit jam, shanklish, darfieh cheese, maakroun bi toum (Hadath El Jebbeh)

Batroun Mjadret fasoulya (Tannourine), edible plants

Byblos Apple vinegar, apple preserves and kishk, mwarraqa (Amchit)

Kesrouane Goat cheese (Jord Kesrouane)

Matn Pine nuts, rice mixed with yoghurt and eggs (Baskinta)

Baabda Pine nuts, cherry jam and syrup (Hammana), carob molasses (Ksaibe)

Aley Pomegranate molasses, zaatar

34 It is worth mentioning that a Geographical Indication project law and complete study exists at the Ministry of Economy to designate geographical areas for food

and agricultural specialties and protect them.

https://food-heritage.org/darb-el-karam/


Shouf Grape sour syrup or charab el-hosroum, dried figs, edible plants, carob molasses, aakkoub

Sidon Rosewater and sweet bread (Maghdouche)

Jezzine Pine nuts

Tyre Seafood, freekeh

Nabatieh Edible plants, zaatar, freekeh

Hasbaya Olive oil, edible plants

Bint Jbeil Specialty bread meshtah el jreesh, olive oil, freekeh

Marjayoun Olive oil

Rachaya Edible plants, grape molasses

West Beqaa Charab el-hosroum, edible plants, olive oil, goat labneh and cheese, shanklish, labneh ambris and serdeleh

Zahle* Cow milk labneh (Taanayel), Lebanese mezze, sweet bread

Baalbeck-Hermel Eggplant makdous, kishk, freekeh, apricot preserves, goat labneh, labneh ambris and serdeleh, tannour bread Source: Compiled by author

* Zahle was designated a City of Gastronomy by UNESCO in 2013

Wine tourism: Lebanon is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, as archeological

excavations have shown that wine was produced by Phoenicians in the 7th century B.C. Modern

viticulture and wine production in Lebanon dates back to the mid-19th century when Jesuit missionaries

introduced noble grapes to the Beqaa Valley and founded the first winery in the country. The

development of the wine sector was relatively slow until the last 10 years of the 20th century when the

number of commercial wineries increased from 12 to 25. Between 2001 and 2010, 26 new wineries

were created and another 15 wineries between 2011 and 2020, making the total number of wineries in

Lebanon 66 by the end of 2020 (Annex 5. List of wineries and their characteristics).

The Beqaa Valley has the largest number of wineries and wine production volume (41% and 74%

respectively), followed by Mount Lebanon (36% and 21%), Batroun (14% and 3%), North Lebanon (6%

and 1.5%), South Lebanon and Nabatieh (3% and 0.5%). Lebanese wineries can be classified into four

categories based on the number of produced bottles:

• Micro wineries producing less than 50,000 bottles constitute 50% of the wineries, mainly located in

Mount Lebanon, Batroun, and West Beqaa.

• Small wineries producing between 50,000 and 99,999 bottles constitute 21% of the wineries, mainly

located in the Beqaa Valley and mount Lebanon.

• Medium wineries producing between 100,000 and 499,999 bottles constitute 23% of the wineries,

mainly located in the Beqaa Valley and Mount Lebanon.

• Large wineries producing more than 500,000 bottles constitute 6% of the wineries, mainly located in

Mount Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley.

Table 17 shows the geographical distribution and production scale of the Lebanese wineries.

TABLE 17: LEBANON’S WINERIES DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTION SCALE

Region Micro (<50K bottles) Small (50 to 99.9K bottles) Medium (100 to 499.9K bottles) Large (>500K)

Beqaa 9 6 10 2

Mount Lebanon 14 5 3 2

Batroun and North Lebanon 9 2 2 0

South Lebanon & Nabatieh 1 1 0 0

Total 33 (50%) 14 (21%) 15 (23%) 4 (6%) Source: Compiled by Author; www.209lebanesewine.com; www.vinileb.com

From a tourism perspective, the majority of wineries offer at least one service or activity for their

visitors as shown in the following table (Table 18).

TABLE 18: LEBANON’S WINERIES TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY SERVICES CHARACTERISTICS Service/activity Percentage of wineries

Restaurants and F&B 32%

http://www.209lebanesewine.com/

http://www.vinileb.com/


Shop and wine boutique (on site and/or in Beirut) 23%

Accommodation in or next to the winery 11%

Wine tasting 83%

Winery tour 71%

Vineyard tour 41%

Participation in wine grapes harvesting 17%

Walk in visit 6%

Phone reservation needed 88%

Online booking for wine tours and wine tasting 6%

Venue for events 26%

Other activities including hiking, yoga, retreats, cooking workshops 14%

Active website 67%

Active social media page 95% Source: Compiled by author based on information features on the wineries’ websites and social media pages

In terms of types of products:

• 98% of wineries produce red wine

• 71% produce rosé wine

• 82% produce white wine

• 21 produce sweet wine

• 39% produce Arak

• 26% produce others alcoholic beverages such as liquors, vodka, gin, and whiskey

• 14% produce organic certified wine

Lebanon does not have tour operators or companies specialized in wine tourism. Wine tours and

winery visits are conducted on an individual basis or through conventional tour operators and

organizers. Despite the concentration of wineries in some regions such as in West Beqaa, Central

Beqaa, and Batroun, none of these areas or wineries created an integrated and labelled wine route with

pre-defined packages and products. The number of visitors and the quality of hospitality services and

tourist activities differ among wineries based on their scale and availability of professional and trained

staff. The two big wineries in the Beqaa, Château Ksara and Château Kefraya, receive the largest number

of visitors with no reservation needed, followed by Domaine des Tourelles, Ixsir Winery, and Château

Musar. The remaining wineries receive a limited number of visitors upon reservation. Large and medium

wineries provide standard wine tours and wine tasting activities conducted by trained staff, whereas

small and micro wineries do not have specific packages for wine tours and wine tasting; instead, they

adapt their services and activities based on the visitors’ preferences. The majority of tours in these

wineries are conducted by their owners and/or winemakers, which distinguish the experience they

provide from large and medium wineries.


III.6.6 LOCAL AND REGIONAL DESTINATIONS

Table 19 summarizes the state of rural and nature-based tourism in Lebanon’s different regions with existing types of tourism, those that need

improvement and/or development, and potential areas where rural and nature-based tourism clusters and DMOs can be created.

TABLE 19: LEBANON’S WINERIES TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY SERVICES CHARACTERISTICS

Mohafazat Caza Existing types of rural/nature-

based tourism and activities

Types and activities of rural/nature-based tourism

that need improvement or development Potential regional clusters and DMOs

Akkar Akkar Soft adventure: hiking, camping

Hard adventure: trekking

Agro-tourism, gastronomy tourism, geo-tourism

Soft adventure: cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, donkey riding,

cycling, bird watching

Hard adventure: ski touring, mountain biking, rock climbing

Menjez - Qobayat - Aandaket - Beino - Deir Janine

Qammoua - Fnaideq - Akkar El Atika - Mechmech - Tachae

North

Lebanon

Minieh-

Donnieh Soft adventure: hiking

Ecotourism, agro-tourism

Soft adventure: camping, donkey riding

Hard adventure: ski touring, mountain biking, rock climbing

Sir - Bqaa Sefrine - Kfarbnine - Jabal El Arbaa’en

Bcharreh Soft adventure: hiking, snowshoeing

Hard adventure: trekking, skiing

Ecotourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy tourism

Soft adventure: cross-country skiing, donkey riding, cycling

Hard adventure: ski touring, mountain biking, rock climbing, hot air

ballooning

Union of Bcharreh Municipalities

Qadisha Valley (in cooperation with the Zgharta side of the valley)

Zgharta

Ecotourism; gastronomy tourism

Soft adventure: hiking, snowshoeing, camping

Hard adventure: paragliding

Ecotourism, geo-tourism, gastronomy tourism, agro-tourism

Soft adventure: cycling

Hard adventure: paragliding, ski touring, mountain biking

Union of Zgharta Municipalities

Qadisha Valley (in cooperation with the Bcharreh side of the valley)

Koura Soft adventure: cycling, diving and snorkeling

(Anfeh)

Ecotourism (Anfeh), agro-tourism

Soft adventure: cycling, bird watching, snorkeling

Anfeh - Balamand - Fiaa

Koura plain cluster

Batroun

Ecotourism; wine tourism

Soft adventure: cycling, hiking, snowshoeing,

camping, stand-up paddling

Hard adventure: rock climbing, surfing

Ecotourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism, geo-

tourism

Soft adventure: donkey riding, bird watching, snorkeling

Hard adventure: rock climbing, mountain biking, canyoning, kayaking

Coastal area villages: Batroun - Thoum - Kfaraabida - Hamat - Nourieh

Middle mountains villages: Kfarhilda - Beit Chelala - Assia - Sourat

High mountains villages: Tannourine - Chatine - Douma - Bchaaleh cluster

(can be linked to the high mountain villages of Byblos, around the Laklouk

plateau)

Batroun wineries cluster

Mount

Lebanon

Byblos

Ecotourism

Soft adventure: cycling, hiking, snowshoeing,

camping, stand-up paddling

Hard adventure: surfing, caving

Ecotourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism, geo-

tourism

Soft adventure: donkey riding, bird watching, snorkeling

Hard adventure: caving, rock climbing

Coastal area villages: Byblos - Amchit - Fidar - Berbara

Middle mountains villages: Ghalboun - Ain Kefaa - Maad - Bejjeh - Hakel

High mountains villages: Ehmej - Jaj - Tartej - Laklouk - Akoura - Afqa -

Qartaba cluster (can be linked to the high mountain villages of Batroun,

around Laklouk plateau)

Kesrouane

Ecotourism

Soft adventure: hiking, snowshoeing, camping

Hard adventure: skiing, snowboarding, ski

touring

Wine tourism

Soft adventure: donkey riding, bird watching, cross-country skiing

Hard adventure: trekking, mountain biking

Union of Kesrouane Municipalities

Ftouh Kesrouane cluster

Kesrouane wineries cluster

Matn

Soft adventure: hiking, cycling snowshoeing,

camping

Hard adventure: mountain biking, ski touring

Agro-tourism, gastronomy tourism Middle mountains villages with Bikfaya as a hub

High mountains villages with Baskinta as a hub

Baabda Soft adventure: hiking, cycling, camping

Hard adventure: mountain biking, canyoning Ecotourism Bzebdine - Ras El Maten - Qornayel - Falougha - Hammana

Aley Soft adventure: camping

Hard adventure: climbing

Geo-tourism

Soft adventure: hiking, cycling, camping

Hard adventure: climbing

Aley - Bhamdoun - Saoufar

Shouf Ecotourim

Soft adventure: hiking, cycling, camping

Geo-tourism

Agro-tourism, gastronomy tourism Shouf Biosphere Reserve villages

South

Lebanon

Jezzine Soft adventure: cycling, hiking, camping Ecotourism, geo-tourism, gastronomy tourism

Hard adventure: mountain biking Jezzine Union of Municipalities

Sidon N/A N/A N/A

Tyre Ecotourism Ecotourism; agro-tourism (fisheries) Tyre to Naqoura


Mohafazat Caza Existing types of rural/nature-

based tourism and activities

Types and activities of rural/nature-based tourism

that need improvement or development Potential regional clusters and DMOs

Soft adventure: snorkeling

Hard adventure: diving

Soft adventure: snorkeling

Hard adventure: diving

Nabatieh

Bint Jbeil N/A Agro-tourism N/A

Nabatieh N/A Gastronomy tourism N/A

Marjayoun Soft adventure: hiking Ecotourism

Agro-tourism, gastronomy tourism N/A

Hasbaya Soft adventure: hiking



Hard adventure: mountain biking

Hasbani Union of Municipalities

Beqaa

Rachaya Soft adventure: hiking

Hard adventure: trekking



Hard adventure: mountain biking

Al Qalaa Union of Municipalities

Jabal El Sheikh Union of Municipalities

West

Beqaa Agro-tourism, wine tourism

Agro-tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism

Soft adventure: hiking, cycling

Hard adventure: hot air ballooning

Al Bouhaira Union of Municipalities

West Beqaa wineries cluster

Zahle Agro-tourism, wine tourism

Soft adventure: cycling, hiking

Ecotourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism

Hard adventure: hot air ballooning

Zahle Union of Municipalities

Zahle wineries cluster

Baalbeck-

Hermel

Baalbeck Wine tourism Agro-tourism, gastronomy tourism, wine tourism Deir El Ahmar Union of Municipalities

Baalbeck wineries cluster

Hermel Soft adventure: camping, hiking

Had adventure: rafting

Soft adventure: hiking

Hard adventure: trekking N/A

Source: Compiled by author based on interviews and field observations


IV. CHALLENGES, CONSTRAINTS, OPPORTUNITIES,

AND AREA OF INTERVENTIONS

The prospects of tourism development in Lebanon in general, and rural and nature-based tourism in

particular, are promising. However, tourism remains sensitive to political and security fluctuations, in

addition to the uncertainty regarding its speedy recovery in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and

Lebanon’s capacity to cope with this global challenge and respond to new market trends. Besides its self-

evident economic impact, especially in terms of ensuring foreign currency flow into the country, tourism

can also become a driver for sustainability, particularly towards natural and cultural heritage resources,

as well as for a decentralized economic development model that can benefit the areas and municipalities

with more income and employment.

Despite the increasing demand for rural and nature-based tourism services and activities in Lebanon, the

majority of stakeholders and service providers working in this field are not well integrated into the

tourism value chain. This is due to overarching constraints hindering the development of adventure

tourism, ecotourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism in a professional manner, and their

positioning in the marketplace as high added value and competitive tourism products. These constraints

include:

• Unclear mandates and unsystematic responsibilities among different public governmental institutions

• Unfavorable enabling environment and absence of specialized legal frameworks and regulations

• Absence of categorization, criteria, standards, quality control systems, and certification/labelling

• Lack of awareness among tourism professionals and confusion in the marketplace regarding the

different types of rural and nature-based tourism

• Absence of specialized business associations and syndicates

• Absence of reliable data and market information

Based on the above analysis, constraints and opportunities have been identified for different sub-sectors

of the rural and nature-based tourism value chain, as well as for each type of tourism. Possible

interventions are proposed to address strategic and technical weaknesses in the rural and nature-based

tourism value chain.

IV.1 RURAL ACCOMODATION AND F&B SERVICES

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGES/CONSTRAINTS OPPORTUNITIES Accommodation and F&B:

• Low occupancy rate and high seasonality

• Increased inflation and decreased profitability

• Limited skilled labor pool and brain drain

• Inconsistent food supply change

• Currency fluctuation and complex pricing Accommodation facilities:

• Saturated room supply in a few areas vs. limited room supply in the majority of rural areas

• Inconsistent quality of services COVID-19:

• Adoption of safety measures

• Low trust in small and medium establishments

• The domestic market’s Increasing demand for accommodation outside Beirut in small-scale facilities

• Currency devaluation and increased competitiveness on the international market

• Rich and distinguished culinary heritage

• Increasing demand for local produce

• Great examples of innovations in the restaurant sector, with many youth creating new concepts, several franchising them in and outside Lebanon

• Existence of many traditional houses and mansions in rural areas in need of restoration that could be transformed into

boutique hotels or guesthouses


PROPOSED INTERVENTION AREAS

• Offer service providers tailor-made support to enhance resilience and increase shock-resistance

capacity (e.g., training programs on crisis management in tourism and hospitality)

• Provide technical support for owners/managers of accommodation and F&B facilities to improve

their performance, and provide training for their staff to improve quality of services (e.g., training

programs on customer service, customer relations, communications, F&B services, and hotel

management)

• Support small and medium firms and operators in menu engineering, pricing, and cost control

• Support rural and nature-based tourism firms and service providers in adopting COVID-19

measures and assist them in acquiring specific certifications for health, hygiene, and occupational

safety

• Create linkages and facilitate partnerships between the F&B sector and wineries planning to provide

F&B services (e.g., introduce specialized F&B services to micro and small wineries under joint

ventures or franchising systems)

• Provide support to hospitality and F&B technical and vocational training to strengthen the skilled

workforce, to introduce innovation, and to adapt the existing educational program to new global

trends

• Introduce best practices for sustainability in accommodation and F&B services (e.g., provisioning

locally produced food, better waste management, water management, and renewable energy

systems)

• Upgrade the soft infrastructure of rural accommodation services and F&B services to provide high

added value, authentic, and comfortable experiences

Illustrative interventions

1) Provide financial support to individual accommodation and F&B service providers who have plans to expand their business,

improve their performance, and upgrade their services through improving the soft infrastructure of their facilities, equipment

(e.g., kitchen, laundry), furniture, and internal and external spaces including landscaping. Such interventions should be linked to

increasing the business volume (occupancy rate, especially during low seasons), diversifying market segments, and providing a

high quality/value service, in addition to reducing the cost and increasing profit margins.

2) Provide technical support (hospitality services, management, marketing, and promotion) for individual service providers or

clusters to overcome current challenges (the financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic) and to adapt/match their offer with new

market trends. The clusters can be a regional regrouping of different accommodation types in a specific region/destination (Cf.

clusters and DMOs proposed in Table 19 on page 65) and/or per category (e.g., camping sites, eco-lodges, guesthouses).

Technical support can be delivered by individual experts, consulting firms or NGOs specialized in rural tourism and hospitality

services.

Potential partners and champion firms35

Camping: Chahtoul Camping (Mount Lebanon – Kesrouane)

Forest resort: Arz Ehmej Park (Mount Lebanon – Byblos)

Guesthouse: Cezar Projects (Mount Lebanon – Shouf)

Eco-lodge: Al Jord Eco-lodge (Hermel)

Rural accommodation aggregator: Cheez Hospitality (National)

35 Proposed champion firms for all intervention areas are indicative [incomplete sentence]. A more detailed and in-depth sub-sector analysis and firm evaluation is

needed to determine the stakeholder’s ability to be considered as a champion firm, and to identify additional ones. Champion firms can connect organizations and

rural tourism stakeholders together to form business clusters, regional clusters and/or DMOs including municipalities and their unions, nature reserves, farmers,

traditional and specialty food producers, rural and agricultural cooperatives, crafts makers, youth clubs, tour operators, outdoor sports clubs, tourism business

associations and syndicates, tourism and heritage NGOs, tourism digital platforms, and OTAs.


IV.2 ATTRACTIONS, DESTINATIONS & PRODUCTS

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGES/CONSTRAINTS OPPORTUNITIES Attractions:

• Deterioration of cultural heritage assets in general

• Poor maintenance and conservation of key touristic sites, which has resulted in deterioration and loss not only at the Lebanese level but also at the world heritage level

• Lack of modern complimentary offerings in rural and nature-based touristic sites (F&B, souvenirs, shopping)

• Pollution, environmental concerns, and the impact of climate change on natural resources

Destinations and products:

• Lack of themed tourism itineraries/packages reflecting Lebanon’s rich heritage and diverse experiences

• Seasonality and concentration of visitors/travelers in a few

destinations/attractions

• Absence of DMOs on the local/regional level

• Rich and diverse cultural and natural heritage

• Increasing demand for rural and nature-based tourism types on the domestic and international markets

• Lebanese cuisine, wine, and Arak can be used as important assets for tourism products development

• Willingness and readiness of local communities, municipalities, and NGOs to preserve and valorize their heritage resources

• Increased awareness of sustainability

• Increasing number of visitors to regions outside Beirut

• Increased awareness among municipalities and unions of municipalities to promote their regions under the cluster model and the need to create DMOs


• Protect and valorize natural and cultural heritage assets considered tourism attractions through

supporting municipalities, relevant associations, and protected areas to train their staff on

conservation issues, creating and implementing specific tourism management plans, implementing

visitor control and monitoring systems to respect sites carrying capacity, and adopting sustainable

and responsible tourism guidelines

• Design, create, test, and promote thematic itineraries/routes on the regional and national level with

a focus on:

− Cultural and intangible heritage tourism (e.g., seasonal food trails, historical routes following

specific civilizations such as Roman temples and Crusaders fortresses)

− Religious and faith tourism in cooperation with FBOs (Cf. www.culturalreligioustourism.com)

− City and village tours focusing on tangible heritage (architecture) and intangible heritage (stories

and traditions) in cooperation with municipalities, nature reserves, local guides, and NGOs

− National trails network that includes homogenized guidelines for trail design, building,

classification (difficulty levels and usages/activities), management, blazing, and maintenance (to be

coordinated with the LMTA)

− Ecotourism trails focused on biodiversity and wildlife observation including bird watching

− Adventure tourism destinations with a focus on mountain biking (such as in the Matn mountains

and in Jezzine), climbing and via ferrata (such as in Tannourine and in Akoura)

− Agro-tourism based on the agricultural heritage of each region and harvesting seasons

− Gastronomy based on the food heritage and traditions of each region

− Wine routes with a focus on small and micro wineries in Zahle, West Beqaa, Batroun-Byblos,

Kesrouane, Matn-Baabda, and Aley-Shouf

• Create regional clusters gathering key tourism service providers; the clusters can be based on:

− Administrative divisions as in the case of unions of municipalities

− Geographical clusters for villages and towns with similar and complementary attractions and

activities (e.g., Laklouk Plateau Cluster including Akoura - Ehmej - Tannourine - Charine, Wadi

Qadisha cluster including 18 villages bordering the valley from the Bcharreh and Zgharta districts,

Qobayat - Menjez - Aandaqet cluster, the Byblos middle mountains cluster including Ghalboun -

Bejjeh - Hakel - Ain Kefaa - Maad-Sghar)

http://www.culturalreligioustourism.com/


− Thematic clusters (wine routes, cultural/religious routes, and agricultural heritage clusters, e.g.,

olive oil, table grapes, mountain fruits, dairy products, pastoralism, and rangelands)

• Explore and study the possibility of creating DMOs from a legal, managerial, and financial

perspective. The DMOs’ scale can be similar to the clusters’ scale (administrative, geographical,

thematic)


1) Provide technical support targeting municipalities and their unions, local and national NGOs working on heritage

management and protection, as well as nature reserves and eco-tour operators to map cultural and natural heritage and

capitalize it using digital means, establish sustainable and responsible tourism practices (e.g., ecotourism charter), and to

implement access control and monitor systems in sensitive natural and cultural sites used for tourism purposes.

2) Initiate the process of creating DMOs through community mobilization and tourism businesses involvement. The DMO

creation mechanism and its management model (legal framework, membership, financing, decision-making, branding, marketing

and promotion) might differ from one region to another given the diverse social and economic realities, the territorial

development dynamic and the role of different stakeholders, the presence of strong leadership, and the different levels of

willingness/readiness to initiate this process. For example, the Shouf Biosphere Reserve is planning to create a DMO covering

its surrounding villages, the Municipality of Zgharta-Ehden established contacts with DMOs in France to benefit from their

experience in this field, and the Union of Jezzine Municipalities has a clear vision for rural tourism development but lacks the

know-how to initiate the DMO (Cf. clusters and DMOs proposed in Table 19 on page 65).

Potential partners and champion firms

Unions of municipalities: Jezzine, Kesrouane, Bouhaira (West Beqaa), Bcharreh, Deir El Ahmar

Municipalities: Zgharta-Ehden, Batroun, Tannourine, Ghalboun, Menjez

Nature reserves: Shouf Biosphere Reserve

NGOs: LMTA, ADPL, Arcenciel, SPNL

Tour operators and clubs: 33 North, Routes LB, Tourleb, Wanderleb, Club Thermique du Liban

Business associations: USEIL, Institut National de la Vigne et du Vin (INVV), UVL

IV.3 ECOTOURISM

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGES/CONSTRAINTS OPPORTUNITIES

• Absence of an ecotourism management plan in most of the nature reserves

• Weak knowledge in tourism and hospitality matters among nature reserve staff

• Absence of digitalized access control and proper data collection/analysis

• Overcrowding in the few nature reserves and a very low number of visitors to other reserves

• Limited number of conservation and education-related

activities

• Lack of integration of ecotourism services and activities in other protected sites and Hima (Cf. page 16 footnote 6 for more information on the Hima system)

• Reliance of a nature reserve on external funding to develop and improve ecotourism

• Lack of networking between nature reserves and ecotourism service providers

• Under exploitation of the geo-tourism concept

• Increasing demand for ecotourism on the domestic and global markets

• Increasing number of visitors to some nature reserves

• Readiness and willingness of nature reserve managers and staff to improve their services and activities

• Small investments needed to improve ecotourism services and activities

• Innovative ICT solutions for tourism marketing and promotions

• Rich geological heritage



• Support nature reserves and other protected natural sites to prepare and implement ecotourism

management plans

• Develop and promote conservation and environmental education activities such as bird watching

and wildlife observation

• Invest in digital marketing and promote and build brand awareness on the tourism e-marketplace

• Promote and facilitate small investments in ecotourism-related services and activities (e.g., guiding,

environmental education, eco-tour operators) in partnership with the private sector

• Create a national network for nature reserves and protected sites respecting the ecotourism

principles and offering ecotourism services and activities. The national network can work on

cooperative marketing and on the creation of joint packages and ecotourism products

• Introduce the geo-tourism component to nature reserves and other protected sites


1) Provide technical and financial support to nature reserves and support them in:

- Creating, upgrading and implementing ecotourism and visitors’ management plans (e.g., carrying capacity, access control,

zoning systems, data collection and analysis, digital marketing and promotion)

- Diversifying ecotourism activities and products (e.g., ecotourism vacation and holidays, wildlife observation)

- Enhancing visitors’ experience and improving the quality of the delivered services (e.g., guiding services, educational activities)

- Creating business linkages with local, national and international tourism service providers (e.g., travel agents, eco-tour

operators)

- Enhancing social, economic, and environmental sustainability inside the reserve and in its surrounding areas (e.g., renewable

energy, waste management, clean mobility, organic agriculture)

2) Create a national network for nature reserves and Himas to share knowledge, data, and work on cooperative marketing to

promote Lebanon as an ecotourism destination


Nature reserves: Shouf Biosphere Reserve, Horsh Ehden Reserve, Tannourine Cedars Nature Reserve,

Bentael Nature, Tyre Coast Nature Reserve

NGOs: LMTA, SPNL

Business associations: USEIL

IV.4 ADVENTURE TOURISM


• Absence of classification and categorization of adventure tourism activities

• Saturation of some activities such as hiking and rafting, and limited development of other activities such as ski touring,

caving, and mountain biking

• Inconsistent quality of services

• Absence or inadequate safety measures in some hard adventure activities

• Lack of professional guides and instructors

• Absence of designated adventure sports zones in rural and mountainous areas with access control and monitoring by local

authorities

• Lack of integration of sustainability measures and practices in adventure activities

• Increasing demand for outdoor activities on the domestic and global markets

• Motivation of youth in rural areas to work on outdoor sports activities

• Existence of key experts specialized in adventure tourism

• Possibility of practicing different outdoor and adventure activities in the same location and during different seasons


CHALLENGES/CONSTRAINTS OPPORTUNITIES

• Absence of specialized training centers and technical training for professional outdoor sports activities


• Classify and categorize adventure tourism activities into soft and hard adventure experiences (Cf.

section II.6.3)

• Train adventure tourism service providers on sustainability issues and support them in adopting

sustainable practices with a focus on respecting natural sites’ carrying capacity and reducing

activities’ impact on natural resources

• Designate specific areas for adventure activities with controlled access and fee systems in

cooperation with municipalities

• Organize national and international competitive and recreational events for adventure activities


1) Create a national training center or technical training program for outdoor adventure sports to guarantee sustainability, high

quality service, and safety

2) Create a digital map and platform showing and promoting local, regional, and national adventure tourism activities and their

relevant service providers


NGOs: LMTA

Business associations: USEIL

Soft adventure tour operators: Routes LB, Tourleb, Wanderleb, Discovery Beyond Borders

Hard adventure tour operators and clubs: Lebanese Adventure, 33 North, Club Thermique du Liban

IV.5 AGRO-TOURISM


• Limited number of professional agro-tourism services and facilities across Lebanon

• Absence of clear standards and criteria for agro-tourism

• Inconsistent quality of services

• Limited knowledge of small farmers and cooperatives in hospitality techniques

• Lack of integration of sustainability measures and practices in agro-tourism facilities

• Diversity of agricultural regions, products, and seasons

• Increasing demand for local products and healthy food

• Increasing interest in farming

• Increasing number of young people investing in agricultural projects and initiatives

• Need and willingness of farmers to diversify their sources of income


• Upgrade existing agro-tourism facilities through improving their soft infrastructure, diversifying the

provided services and activities, and establishing new ones

• Classify and categorize agro-tourism facilities based on the provided services and activities

• Train small farmers and food producers on agro-tourism and support them in providing agro-

tourism services and activities, which can be done in partnership with municipalities, cooperatives,

and/or nature reserves

• Integrate sustainability dimensions in agro-tourism facilities (e.g., sustainable water use, agricultural

waste management, renewable energy, organic certification, eco-farms)

• Organize thematic regional and local agro-tourism events and festivals based on local traditions and

link them to the culinary heritage of each area



Provide technical and financial support for agro-tourism facilities to enhance visitors’ experience through improving and

diversifying farm-related services, and through offering tourism products combining participation in farming activities focused on

families, educational activities for children, comfortable farm stays, F&B services focusing on locally grown, healthy and organic

food, as well as seasonal harvesting events. Agro-tourism facilities can work on increasing their cultivated areas and introducing

new crops to diversify their production and offer a wide variety of products for their visitors, in addition to the improvement

of their internal and external spaces to offer high quality/value services. Agro-tourism facilities and initiatives can partner with

other tourism service providers and rural stakeholders such as accommodation services, nature reserves and agricultural

cooperatives, in addition to specialized tour operators, in order to reach out to new market segments.

Potential partners/champion firms

Little Reed (Mount Lebanon – Baabda), Adonis Valley (Mount Lebanon – Byblos), La Vallée Blanche (Mount Lebanon – Byblos),

Domaine de Taanayel (Beqaa – Zahle), Al Haush Agro-tourism (Beqaa – Zahle)

IV.6 GASTRONOMY AND WINE TOURISM


• Limited number of gastronomy tourism service providers

• Absence of clear standards and criteria for wine tourism

• Inconsistent quality of services in micro and small wineries

• Limited knowledge of micro and small wineries in hospitality techniques

• Lack of integration of sustainability measures and practices in wineries

• Very rich and diverse culinary heritage

• Large number of wine producers providing basic tourism services and willing to upgrade their businesses

• Increasing demand for local products and healthy food

• Need and willingness of small and micro wineries to diversify their markets and increase direct sales


• Upgrade existing wine tourism services for micro and small wineries by improving their soft

infrastructure and renovating the spaces used to welcome and host visitors in order to provide an

authentic and comfortable experience

• Support existing gastronomy tourism service providers to expand their network and upgrade their

services through improving wine-food pairings and culinary offerings

• Train micro and small wineries on hospitality services and techniques to enhance visitor experience

• Organize regional and local gastronomy and wine festivals including harvesting and tasting activities

• Support the creation of local and regional clusters, routes and itineraries combining gastronomy and

wine tourism

• Integrate sustainability dimensions in wineries (e.g., adoption of renewable energy, sustainable waste

management, eco-construction)


1) Provide financial support to food tourism service providers and micro/small wineries with plans to expand their gastronomy

and wine tourism offering, improve their performance and upgrade their services through developing soft infrastructure for

their facilities, equipment and indoor/outdoor hosting spaces (e.g., wine tasting equipment and tools, tasting rooms/areas, F&B

service facilities including kitchens and dining spaces). Such interventions should be linked to increasing the business volume,

diversifying the market segments (individual visitors and organized groups from domestic and international markets) as well as

enhancing visitors’ experience.

2) Provide technical support (hospitality services, product development, business linkages, marketing and promotion) for micro

and small wineries to overcome current challenges (the financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic) and to adapt/match their

offers with new market trends.


3) Create regional clusters for gastronomy and food tourism (linked to the agricultural heritage and existing agro-tourism

facilities) with a main hub (primary village/town or attractions/site) providing a large number of rural tourism services and

activities all year long, in addition to satellite villages/towns/attractions/sites providing specialized activities and seasonal events.

4) Create wine routes congregating wineries (specifically small and micro wineries) in specific regions and territories that share

similar characteristics from a terroir perspective (e.g., in Central Beqaa-Zahle, West Beqaa, Batroun-Byblos middle mountains,

Kesrouane, Matn-Baabda, and Aley-Shouf). The wine routes model (membership, management, branding, marketing and

promotion) might differ from one region to another based on the number and scale of wineries and their willingness to

cooperate and work together, and with other rural tourism stakeholders. Wine routes can be linear or circular and can have a

main hub represented by a prime winery (medium or large-scale) with satellite wineries (small and micro-scale). Wine routes

can also be integrated into rural tourism clusters and DMOs with linkages to other thematic routes (e.g., culinary, agricultural,

cultural, and natural itineraries).


NGOs: FHF, Slow Food Lebanon, LMTA

Tour Operators: Le Passeport Culinaire

Businesses: Souk El Tayeb (Tawlet initiative)

Destinations: Darb El Karam in West Beqaa, Zgharta-Ehden, Tannourine-Chatine-Ehmej-Laklouk-Akoura, Shouf mountains

Wineries: Château Qanafar (Beqaa – West Beqaa), Domaine des Tourelles (Beqaa – Zahle), Domaine St. Gabriel (Mount

Lebanon – Byblos), St. Michael Winery (Mount Lebanon – Shouf), INVV, UVL

IV.7 MARKETING AND PROMOTION


• Absence of national tourism board

• Weak digital marketing and promotion

• Lack of market information and weak market intelligence

• Negative perceptions in the marketplace

• Absence of national “destination brand” and international promotion strategy

• Absence of territorial brands

• Increasing demand for alternative tourism forms on the global market

• Currency devaluation and increased competitiveness on the

international market

• Rise of gastro-diplomacy worldwide, which Lebanese cuisine can take advantage of as a destination and in improving its image abroad

• Promotion of Lebanon as a destination by the Lebanese diaspora, which is formed of nearly 14 million people

• Innovative ICT solutions for tourism marketing and promotions at the destination and firm levels


• Benefit from the currency devaluation and increased competitiveness on the international market to

attract new markets/market segments

• Create an innovative and flexible destination brand for Lebanon based on the new global trends with

a focus on Millennials and Generation Z

• Promote Lebanon as a destination for experiential and transformational tourism

• Invest in digital marketing and promotion and build brand awareness on the tourism e-marketplace

for regional destinations, firms, and service providers

• Target niche, resilient, and risk-tolerant markets (including the Lebanese diaspora)


1) Provide technical and financial support to service providers and firms (accommodation services, F&B services, agro-tourism

facilities, tour operators, nature reserves, wineries), wine routes, clusters and DMOs to upgrade and enhance their digital

media presence, and to reach out to different market segments on the domestic and international level


2) Support regional clusters, DMOSs, nature reserves and national NGOs such as USEIL and LMTA to establish data collection

and analysis systems and to conduct market research in order to disseminate findings among relevant sub-sectors and rural and

nature-based tourism operators


All organizations mentioned in the previous interventions, in addition to:

Media: Lebanon Traveler magazine and website

Digital platforms: Karya, Staycation Lebanon

IV.8 BUSINESS ENABLING ENVIROMENT


• Dysfunctional public sector and weak ministry

• Unclear mandates and overlap of responsibilities

• Weak value chain integration among key tourism service providers and stakeholders’ fragmentation

• Absence of national tourism development strategy

• Obsolete legal framework and unfavorable enabling environment for innovation and sustainable tourism

• Lack of data and absence of tourism satellite accounts to ensure informed decision-making

• Financial crisis and absence of capital investment

• Missing regulatory framework and absence of categorization, standard, quality control, certification and labeling for all rural

and nature-based tourism types (ecotourism, adventure tourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism) and their corresponding service providers (eco-tour operators,

local guides, hiking guides, mountain and outdoor sports guides, camping sites, eco-lodges)

• Increased awareness among key tourism stakeholders on the need to better organize rural and nature-based tourism types from a legal perspective and the need to integrate them in the general tourism value chain

• Urgent need to change the tourism business model in light of the compound crisis facing Lebanon


• Link conventional tourism service providers such as hotels and travel agents to rural and nature-

based tourism service providers and MSMEs such as small tour operators and tour guides

• Create an inbound travel business association formed of a cluster of specialized travel agents, tour

operators, and selected hotels and rural accommodation facilities

• Support the development of a regulatory/institutional framework for rural and nature-based tourism

and emerging tourism, and hospitality services/activities

• Categorize, standardize, and establish local/regional/national or international quality control systems,

labeling systems and/or certifications for rural and nature-based tourism types (ecotourism,

adventure tourism, agro-tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism) and their corresponding service

providers (eco-tour operators, local guides, hiking guides, mountain and outdoor sports guides,

camping sites, eco-lodges)

• Support service providers to acquire international certification when available and relevant, such as

with some outdoor activities (climbing, canyoning, paragliding, mountain guiding) and some

accommodation services (eco-lodges)

• Develop a national tourism sector strategy, with emphasis on sustainable, experimental, and

transformational tourism



1) Support the creation of an inbound travel business association formed of a cluster of specialized travel agents, tour operators

and selected rural accommodation facilities, as well as leading operators in the ecotourism, agro-tourism, adventure tourism,

gastronomy and wine tourism sectors. The inbound travel business association will work international tourism promotion and

creating business linkages with international travel agents and tour operators.

2) Support nature reserves, clusters, DMOs, syndicates, and national NGOs to organize regional and national workshops and

seminars to elaborate specific guidelines, standards, and criteria to categorize existing rural and nature-based service providers

and activities, as well as to enhance visitors’ experience and guarantee a high-quality service. The guidelines, standards and

criteria can be translated into quality control systems, labeling systems and/or certification programs, based on similar

international schemes.

3) Create a national forum for rural and nature-based tourism involving all relevant stakeholders to share knowledge and

experiences, and to study and discuss organizational, management and legal issues, in addition to integrating the sustainability

dimensions in the rural and nature-based tourism types.


All organizations mentioned in previous interventions

IV.9 PRIORITIZATION OF INTERVENTIONS

The below tables prioritize the rural and nature-based tourism interventions of the ARE activity based

on the needed time for execution with three proposed timeframes: short term (one to two years),

medium term (three to five years), through which the project will set the ground for long term

initiatives (over five years). The proposed interventions are also compared to their influence on three

main market segments: 1) domestic; 2) the Lebanese diaspora; and 3) international tourists. These three

markets are differently affected by the three overarching challenges facing Lebanon’s tourism sector: 1)

political and security instability; 2) the economic and financial crisis; and 3) the COVID-19 pandemic.

TABLE 21: LEBANON’S WINERIES TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY SERVICES CHARACTERISTICS

Time line

Level of interventions

Sub-sector Area of interventions Influence on

domestic

market

Influence on diaspora

market

Influence on international

market

Short term

Micro level Ecotourism, agro-tourism gastronomy/wine tourism

Individual operators, firms,

NGOs, farmers, cooperatives, nature

reserves, villages

High High High

Medium

term Meso level

Ecotourism, agro-tourism, adventure tourism,

gastronomy/wine tourism

Unions of municipalities, clusters, DMOs, national

networks Medium Medium High

Long term

Macro level

Enabling environment, legal framework, sector

organization, national

strategies, marketing and promotion

Low Low High

TABLE 22: CRISIS INFLUENCE ON MAIN TOURISM MARKET

Market Sub-sector Political and

security

instability

Economic and financial crisis COVID-19 pandemic

Domestic Ecotourism, soft adventure, agro-tourism, gastronomy

tourism

Slightly affected Affected on the long term,

except for niche markets with

high purchase power

Slightly affected without full lockdowns; highly affected if full

lockdowns persist for long periods

Diaspora Ecotourism, agro-tourism, soft and hard adventure, gastronomy/wine tourism

Moderately affected

Increased attractiveness and competitiveness of the

destination due to currency devaluation

Highly affected until global tourism restarts and the destination gains

trust of travelers International Highly affected


IV.10 GLOBAL TOURISM TRENDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COVID-19

ADAPTATION AND RECOVERY

Ongoing and future tourism development projects in Lebanon should take into consideration the

recommendations and guidelines published on a continuous basis by international tourism organizations

such UNWTO, WTTC, ATTA, Biosphere Responsible Tourism, and the Global Travel and Tourism

Resilience Council, to guide governments, donors, tourism professionals, and tourism service providers

on COVID-19 coping and adaptation mechanisms as well as the post-COVID-19 trends and recovery

pathways. These recommendations focus on the following issues and trends:

• Traveler preferences and behaviors are shifting toward the familiar, predictable, and trusted

products and destinations.

• Domestic vacations, proximity tourism, extensive planning, and the outdoors and nature-based

tourism will reign in the short-term.

• Health, safety, and trust are paramount in the new era for travel and tourism.

• Revision of operational procedures and staff preparedness are necessary.

• Businesses will have to collaborate even more closely with their extended value chains.

• COVID-19 is likely to have stronger negative impacts on urban markets. Domestic and international

travelers will choose to stay away from urban areas after confinement and in a post-COVID-19

phase.

• There is a need to create crisis management manuals, taking note that the COVID-19 context can

be repeated with other scenarios such as natural disasters.

• It is important to include tourism in national, regional, and global economic emergency packages.

• COVID-19 is proving to be an unexpected catalyst in the travel and tourism sector’s quest for

innovation and digitalization.

• There is a need for the diversification of markets, products, and services.

• Investment in market intelligence systems and digital transformation is important.

• Reinforcement of brand value and solidification of sustainability practices/values is key to succeeding

with growing competition and decreasing market size.

• The world has been reinvigorated to tackle social, environmental, and institutional sustainability. In

particular, heightened public awareness of wildlife markets and poaching has boosted advocacy for

wildlife protection.


• It is important to transition towards a circular economy and embracing the Sustainable

Development Goals.


ANNEX 1: LIST OF INTERVIEWED STAKEHOLDERS Organization Region Contact Person Position Phone Email

Unions

Union of Sustainable & Ecotourism Institutions in Lebanon

Lebanon Pascal Abdallah Founder 03-218048 [email protected]

NGOs

Lebanon Mountain Trail Association Lebanon Omar Sakr Board member 03-435707 [email protected]

Tour operators and clubs

Lebanese Adventure Lebanon Serge Soueid Owner 03-214989 [email protected]

Club Thermique Lebanon Raja Saadeh Owner 03-288193 [email protected]

Routes LB North, Akkar and Mount Lebanon Anthony Badoui Owner 76-338762 [email protected]

Le Passeport Culinaire Lebanon Marianne Abou Jaoudeh Founder 70-500633 [email protected]

Governmental

Ministry of Tourism Lebanon Petra Obeid Local development office 03-559576 [email protected]

Agro-tourism with accommodation and/or F&B services

Domaine de Taanayel Taanayel – Central Beqaa Elia Ghorra Manager 03-814441 [email protected] Little Reed Qsaybe – Baabda, Mount Lebanon Elissa Zeidan Cortas Owner 76-007300 [email protected] La Vallée Blanche Ehmej – Jbeil, Mount Lebanon Bassam Matta Owner 03-709604 [email protected] Wineries with accommodation and/or F&B services

Sept winery Nahleh – Batroun, North Lebanon Maher Harb Owner 70-570170 [email protected] Chateau Qanafar Qanafar – West Beqaa Eddy Naim Wine maker 613250342 [email protected] Domaine des Tourelles Central Beqaa Fawzi Issa Wine maker 03-805925 [email protected] Clos St. Thomas Qab Elias – Central Beqaa Joa Touma Owner 03-716107 [email protected] Domaine St. Gabriel Ghalboun – Jbeil, Mount Lebanon Elie Gebrayel Owner 03-305077 [email protected] Nature reserves

Jabal Moussa Biosphere reserve Kesrouane – Mount Lebanon Tania Ballan Ecotourism manager 70-206644 [email protected]

Shouf Biosphere Reserve Shouf – Mount Lebanon Nizar Hani General manager 03-513845 [email protected]

Natural attractions

Batara Gorge Chatine – Batroun, North Lebanon Fadi Chaer Manager 03-700071 [email protected]

Rural accommodation

Cezar guesthouse Barouk – Shouf, Mount Lebanon Cezar Mahmoud Owner 03-051106 [email protected]

Lakloul country lodge Laklouk – Jbeil, Mount Lebanon Lara El Hachem Manager 71-235151 [email protected]

Chahtoul camping Kesrouane – Mount Lebanon Becharah Salameh Owner 70-302040 [email protected]

Unions of municipalities

Zgharta Union of Municipalities North Lebanon Ghassan Tayyoun Vice-president 76-111520 [email protected]

Kesrouane Union of Municipalities Mount Lebanon Rachid Otaki Tourism coordinator 71-755511 [email protected]

Bouhayra Union of Municipalities West Beqaa – Beqaa Yehya Daher President 71-150462 [email protected]

Transportation

Saad transportation Lebanon Amine Nasser General manager 03-722922 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


























ANNEX 2: MUNICIPALITIES AND UNIONS OF

MUNICIPALITIES ACTIVE IN RURAL AND NATURE-

BASED TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION

Municipalities and unions active in rural and nature-based tourism development and promotion* Caza Union Municipalities Akkar - Menjez*, Mechmech, Fnaideq, Qobayat

Minieh-Dannieh Dannieh Union Bqaa Safrine, Kfar Bebnine, Sir Hermel - Hermel Baalbeck Deir El Ahmar Ainata*, Barqa, Bechouat, Deir El Ahmar*, Yammouneh

Bcharreh Bcharreh Union Bcharreh, Bqaa Kafra, Bazaaoun, Hadath El Jebbeh*, Hadchit, Hasroun Zgharta Zgharta Aarjes, Miziara, Zagharta-Ehden

Koura - Anfeh Batroun - Assia, Batroun, Bchaaleh*, Douma, Tannourine*

Jbeil - Aalmat, Ehmej*, Fatreh*, Ghalboun Kesrouane Kesrouane Union Daraia, Dlebta, Faraya, Hayata, Kfardebiane*, Kfour, Yahchouch, Zaitre Matn - Baskinta, Bikfaya, Choueir, Khinchara*, Mtain

Baabda - Aaraya, Arsoun, Falougha, Hammana*, Qornayel*, Ras El Maten Aley - Aley, Kfarmatta, Ramlieh Shouf Souayjani Union Ain Zhalta, Baadaran, Baaqline, Deir El Qamar, Barouk*, Jbaa, Maasser El Shouf, Mristi

Jezzine Jezzine Union Bkassine*, Jezzine*, Lebaa, Roum Sidon - Maghdouche*, Qraiyeh* Tyre - Sour (Tyre)

Bent Jbeil - Ain Ebel*, Tibnine Nabatieh - - Marjayoun Jabal Amel Union Deir Mimes, Ibl El Saqi

Hasbaya Hasbani Union Chebaa, Hasbaya, Kawkaba*, Rachaya El Foukhar Rachaya Qalaat El Istiklal Kfar Michki, Mdoukha, Mhaidseh, Rachaya* West Beqaa Bouhaira Union Ain Zebdeh, Aintanit, Kherbet Qanafar, Machghara, Qaraoun Zahle - Aanjar, Qab Elias, Zahleh-Taanayel

Source: Author

* Supported by USAID funded programs


ANNEX 3: PROTECTED TOURISTIC SITES BY DECISION

OF THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM Site Characteristics Mohafazat Caza Decision no. Year

Arqa Archéologique site Akkar - 198 1993

Qammoua natural landscape Dense forest and mountain plateau Akkar - 198 1993

Beni Saab farm Natural and agricultural landscape North Lebanon Bcharreh 634 1999

Mezyara Village Historical monument, natural landscape North Lebanon Zgharta 268 2004

Kousba Village Historical monument, natural landscape North Lebanon Koura 271 2004

Hardeen Village Historical monuments, religious heritage and natural landscape

North Lebanon Batroun 270 2004

Chaqra and Doubbeih fortress Crusaders fortress Nabatieh Bint Jbeil 265 2004

Jbaa Village Historical monument, natural landscape Nabatieh Nabatieh 266 2004

Arnoun Crusaders fortress Nabatieh Nabatieh 267 2004

Al Hebbariyeh Village Historical monument, natural landscape Nabatieh Hasbaya 263 2004

Shameh fortress Crusaders fortress South Lebanon Tyre 269 2004

Al Shawaghir Village Historical monument and natural landscape Baalbeck-Hermel Hermel 262 2004

Zanoubiya water canal Historical monument, natural landscape Baalbeck-Hermel Hermel 264 2004

Qaa El Reem Historical monument, natural landscape Beqaa Zahle 325 2004




ANNEX 4: SITES OF NATURAL AND/OR ECOLOGICAL

IMPORTANCE IN NEED FOR PROTECTION IN LEBANON Grottos Location

Al Rwaess grotto Mount Lebanon Mohafzat – Jbeil Caza

Afqa grotto Mount Lebanon Mohafzat – Jbeil Caza

Ain Labne grotto Mount Lebanon Mohafzat – Jbeil Caza

Salem grotto Mount Lebanon Mohafzat – Kesrouan Caza

Al Tarash grotto Mount Lebanon Mohafzat – Kesrouan Caza

Kfarhim grotto Mount Lebanon Mohafzat – Shouf Caza

Dahr El Ain grotto North Lebanon Mohafazat

Al Rahwa Spring grotto North Lebanon Mohafazat – Batroun Caza

Zoud grotto North Lebanon Mohafazat

Al Motran grotto North Lebanon Mohafazat

Al Hawa grotto North Lebanon Mohafazat

Al Shatawi spring grotto South Lebanon Mohafazat

Al Rihan grotto South Lebanon Mohafazat – Jezzine Caza

Deir Amess grotto South Lebanon Mohafazat – Bent Jbeil Caza

Haris grotto South Lebanon Mohafazat – Bent Jbeil Caza

Debl grotto South Lebanon Mohafazat – Bent Jbeil Caza

Jeita grotto Mount Lebanon Mohafazat – Kesrouan Caza

Al Kasarat grotto

Sinkholes

Kateen Azar (Tarshish) Mount Lebanon Mohafazat – North Metn caza

Fawar Dara (Tarshish) Mount Lebanon Mohafazat – North Metn caza

Meshemshiyit (Tarshish) Mount Lebanon Mohafazat – North Metn caza

Al Badwiyi Mount Lebanon Mohafazat – Kesrouan Caza

Al Abed (Tannourine) North Lebanon Mohafazat – Batroun Caza

Al Kadaha (Tannourine) North Lebanon Mohafazat – Batroun Caza

Osman Al Ramhi North Lebanon Mohafazat

Smokhaya (Rmeich) South Lebanon Mohafazat – Bent Jbeil Caza

Katmeen (Rmeich) South Lebanon Mohafazat – Bent Jbeil Caza

Geo-sites

Sites with Calcerous- Karstic rocks ex. Faytroun and Rayfoun in Kesrouan; Douma in Batroun

Mount Lebanon Mohafazat – Kesrouan Caza

Forests

Al Qelleh Forest (Akkar) North Lebanon Mohafazat – Akkar Caza

Al Ozor (Fneidek) North Lebanon Mohafazat – Akkar Caza

Other

Bshaalé Olives North Lebanon Mohafazat – Batroun Caza

Sir Doniyeh Valley North Lebanon Mohafazat – Doniyi Caza

Sheikh Zinad area North Lebanon Mohafazat

Al Kneisse Mountain (Sinkholes and dollines)

Sanine Mountain

Sandy beach of Al Mansouri (South of Litani) South Lebanon Mohafazat

Litani Stream Bekaa Mohafazat -South Lebanon Mohafazat




ANNEX 5: LEBANESE WINERIES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

Winery Mohafazat Caza Village Founded Production

scale

Capacity in

BottlesVineyard Size in Ha

Number of

productsRed wine

Rose

wineWhite wine Sweet wine Arak Other products

Organic

wine

Restaurant/F&B

servicesBoutique Accommodation

Wine

tasting

Winery

tour

Vineyard

tour

Wine grape

harvesting eventsVisit Architecture

Venue/

eventsOther activities

Member of

UVLWebsite

Cave Kouroum Beqaa West Beqaa Kefraya 1998 Medium 400,000 Yes 180 10 Yes Yes Yes No YesOlive oil

VinegarNo No No No Yes Yes No No Walk in Modern No No No cavekouroum.com

Chateau Kefraya Beqaa West Beqaa Kefraya 1951 Large 1,500,000 Yes 320 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Mistelle No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Walk in Traditional Yes No Yes chateaukefraya.com

Chateau Marsyas Beqaa West Beqaa Kefraya 2005 Small 60,000 Yes 65 5 Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes No Online booking Modern Yes No No chateaumarsyas.com

Chateau Qanafar Beqaa West Beqaa Kherbet Qanafar 2005 Small 55,000 Yes 17 8 Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Phone booking Modern No No Yes chateauqanafar.com

Umami Wines Beqaa West Beqaa Kherbet Qanafar 2018 Micro 18,000 No N/A 2 Yes No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No N/A Modern No No No N/A

Terre Joie Beqaa West Beqaa Kherbet Qanafar 2008 Micro 22,000 Yes 10 4 Yes Yes No No No No No No No No Yes No Yes No Phone booking Traditional No No No terrejoie.com

Latourba Beqaa West Beqaa Saghbine 2014 Small 60,000 Yes 45 10 Yes Yes Yes No No Sparkling wine No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Phone booking Modern No No No latourba.com

St Clement Winery Beqaa West Beqaa Saghbine 2010 Micro 5,000 Yes 2 3 Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No N/A Modern No No No N/A

Reserve Ammiq Beqaa West Beqaa Ammiq 2008 Micro 8,000 Yes 70 5 Yes No Yes No No No No No No No Yes No No No Phone booking Traditional No Ecotourism No reserveammiq.com

Chateau Ksara Beqaa Zahle Ksara 1857 Large 3,000,000 Yes 450 19 Yes Yes Yes Yes YesEau de Vin

MoscatelNo Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Walk in Traditional Yes No Yes chateauksara.com

Domaine des Tourelles Beqaa Zahle Chtaura 1868 Medium 350,000 Yes 50 10 Yes Yes Yes No Yes Liqueur No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Phone booking Traditional No No Yes domainedestourelles.com

Chateau Ka Beqaa Zahle Chtaura 2004 Medium 300,000 No N/A 5 Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No N/A Modern No No Yes kassatly.net/chateau-ka

Chateau Heritage Beqaa Zahle Qab Elias 1997 Medium 300,000 Yes 100 12 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Modern NoHiking

Farm visitYes chateauheritage.com

Chateau St Thomas Beqaa Zahle Qab Elias 1997 Medium 450,000 Yes 65 9 Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Phone booking Modern No No Yes chateaustthomas.com

Domaine Wardy Beqaa Zahle Zahle 1994 Medium 320,000 Yes 12 17 Yes Yes Yes No Yes Vodka No No No No Yes Yes Yes No Phone booking Modern Yes No Yes domainewardy.com

Chateau Khoury Beqaa Zahle Zahle 2004 Small 50,000 Yes 15 12 Yes Yes Yes Yes YesFruit brandies

Orange blossomYes No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Traditional No No Yes chateaukhoury.com

Domaine de Baal Beqaa Zahle Zahle 2006 Micro 20,000 Yes 6 3 Yes No Yes No No No Yes No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Traditional No No Yes domainedebaal.com

Coteaux du Liban Beqaa Zahle Zahle 1999 Medium 100,000 Yes 15 6 Yes No Yes No No No No No No No Yes Yes No Yes Phone booking Modern No No Yes libancave.com

Massaya (closed) Beqaa Zahle Taanayel 1998 Small 70,000 Yes N/A 7 Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Phone booking Modern Yes No No massaya.com

Chateau Nakad Beqaa Zahle Jdita 1923 Medium 400,000 Yes N/A 9 Yes Yes Yes No YesAfandello

GinNo No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Traditional No No Yes chateaunakad.com

Clos MasHelios Beqaa Zahle Jdita 2007 Micro 5,000 Yes N/A 5 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Modern No No No closmashelios.com

Chateau Rayak Beqaa Zahle Rayak 2015 Micro 25,000 Yes N/A 5 Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Phone booking Traditional Yes No No chateaurayak.com

Vertical 33 Beqaa Zahle Mraijet 2014 Micro N/A Yes N/A 5 Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Phone booking Traditional Yes No No vertical33.com

Domaine des Deux Montagnes Beqaa Rachaya Beit Lahiya 2016 Micro 5,000 Yes 2 2 Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No N/A Modern No No No N/A

Chateau Barka Baalbeck-Hermel Baalbeck Barka 2009 Medium 150,000 Yes N/A 6 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes No No No Phone booking Modern NoHiking

BikingNo vignaverde.net

Couvent Rouge Baalbeck-Hermel Baalbeck Deir El Ahmar 2010 Medium 120,000 Yes 260 5 Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Modern Yes No No couventrougewinery.com

Muse du Liban Baalbeck-Hermel Baalbeck Ainata El Arz 2015 Small 50,000 Yes 70 3 Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Modern No No No museduliban.com

Domaine St Gabriel Mount Lebanon Jbeil Ghalboun 2017 Micro 25,000 Yes 7 1 Yes No No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes Phone booking Modern No Hiking No N/A

Chateau Gharzouz Mount Lebanon Jbeil Gharzouz 2015 Micro 5,000 Yes 2 1 Yes No No No No No No No No No Yes No No No Phone booking Modern No No No N/A

Chateau Wadih Winery and Cidery Mount Lebanon Jbeil Mgheire-Akoura 2008 Micro 8,000 Yes 2 13 Yes No Yes No NoSparkling cidre

Blue wineNo No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Modern No No No N/A

Chateau Musar Mount Lebanon Kesrouane Ghazir 1930 Large 700,000 Yes 180 10 Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Traditional No No Yes chateaumusar.com

Château Sainte-Andrée Mount Lebanon Kesrouane Ghbaleh 2013 Micro N/A N/A N/A 4 Yes Yes Yes No No Liqueur No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Phone booking Traditional Yes No No N/A

Chateau Bybline Mount Lebanon Kesrouane Wata El Joz 1996 Micro 10,000 Yes 2 4 Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No N/A Modern No No No chateaubybline.com

Chateau Fakra Mount Lebanon Kesrouane Kfardebiane 1985 Medium 250,000 Yes 40 8 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Traditional No No No chateaufakra.com

Vignoble Joura Mount Lebanon Kesrouane Kfardebiane 2018 Micro N/A Yes N/A 3 Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Phone booking Traditional No Hiking No N/A

Cave des Ours Mount Lebanon Kesrouane Kfardebiane 2015 Micro N/A No N/A 3 No No No No Yes Apple wine No No No No No No No No N/A Traditional No No No cavedesours.com

Riachi Winery and Distellery Mount Lebanon Matn Khenchara 1839 Small 90,000 Yes 20 20 Yes Yes Yes No YesWhiskey

Gin No Yes No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Traditional No No No riachi.me

Riachi Vineyards Mount Lebanon Matn Khenchara 2006 Small N/A N/A N/A 4 Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No N/A Modern No No No N/A

Cave du Monastere St Jean Mount Lebanon Matn Khenchara 1720 Micro 20,000 Yes 15 6 Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes Yes No No Phone booking Monastic No No No N/A

Chateau Oumsiyat Mount Lebanon Matn Mtein 1950 Large 700,000 Yes 90 14 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Blue wine No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Phone booking Modern Yes Hiking Yes chateauoumsiyat.com

Ardoum Mount Lebanon Matn Mtein 1982 Micro N/A N/A N/A 3 Yes No Yes No Yes No No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Phone booking Traditional Yes Hiking No N/A

Domaine des Princes Mount Lebanon Matn Mtein 1950 Medium 200,000 Yes 23 2 Yes No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No N/A Modern No No No N/A

Chateau Trois Collines Mount Lebanon Baabda Dahr El Baydar 2015 Small 70,000 Yes 40 3 Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Modern No No No N/A

The Three Brothers Mount Lebanon N/A N/A 2019 Micro N/A N/A N/A 5 Yes Yes Yes No Yes Gin No No No No No No No No N/A Modern N/A No No N/A

Domaine Kortbawi Mount Lebanon Baabda Kfarselwan 1887 Small N/A N/A N/A N/A Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No N/A Traditional No No No N/A

Chateau Nabise Mount Lebanon Aley Rechmaya 1999 Micro 15,000 Yes 2 8 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes Phone booking Traditional No No No nabise.com

Chateau Cana Mount Lebanon Aley Ras El Harf 1999 Medium 100,000 Yes 13 10 Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Phone booking Traditional Yes No Yes chateaucana.com

Iris Domain Mount Lebanon Aley Bhamdoun 2010 Micro 5,000 Yes 5 1 Yes No No No No No Yes Yes No No Yes No No No Phone booking Traditional No No No irisdomain.com

Chateau Belle Vue Mount Lebanon Aley Bhamdoun 2000 Micro 20,000 Yes 24 3 Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Phone booking Traditional Yes No Yes chateaubelle-vue.com

Chateau Florentine Mount Lebanon Shouf Majdel Meouch 2010 Small N/A Yes N/A 5 Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes No Phone booking Traditional No No No N/ASt Michael Winery Mount Lebanon Shouf Masser El Shouf 2010 Micro 10,000 No N/A 7 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Rose Water No Yes No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Traditional No No No N/AAtibaia Winery North Lebanon Batroun Smar Jbeil 2008 Micro 12,000 Yes 5 5 Yes No Yes No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Online booking Traditional No No Yes atibaiawine.com

Aurora winery and vineyards North Lebanon Batroun Rachkiddeh 2003 Micro 10,000 Yes 3 6 Yes Yes Yes No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Online booking Traditional No No Yes aurorawinery.com

Batroun mountains North Lebanon Batroun Rawabi 2003 Small 50,000 Yes 12 25 Yes Yes Yes Yes YesOrange liqueur

Sparkling wineYes No No No Yes Yes Yes No Phone booking Modern No No No N/A

Chateau Sanctus North Lebanon Batroun Mar Mama 1999 Micro 20,000 Yes 10 4 Yes No No No No No Yes No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Modern No No Yes chateausanctuslebanon.com

Clos du Pheonix North Lebanon Batroun Eddeh 2013 Micro 10,000 Yes 6 5 Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Phone booking Modern Yes No Yes closduphoenix.com

Coteuax de Botrys North Lebanon Batroun Eddeh 1998 Small N/A Yes 17 2 Yes No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Modern No No Yes N/A

Domaine S. Najm North Lebanon Batroun Chabtine 1994 Micro 5,000 Yes 2 2 Yes No No No Yes No No No No No Yes Yes No No Phone booking Traditional No No No N/A

Ixsir North Lebanon Batroun Basbina 2008 Medium 300,000 Yes 120 8 Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Walk in Traditional Yes No Yes ixsir.com

Sept winery North Lebanon Batorun Nahleh 2016 Micro 7,000 Yes 2 2 Yes No Yes No No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Phone booking Modern Yes No No levinsept.com

Ishtar winery North Lebanon Koura Dar Baachtar 2015 Micro 15,000 Yes 4 4 Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes No Phone booking Modern No No No N/A

Mont d'Almaz North Lebanon Bcharreh Beit Menzer 2006 Micro N/A Yes N/A 3 Yes Yes No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes No Phone booking Modern No Hiking No montdalmaz.com

Les Caves d'Eden North Lebanon Zaghrta Toula-Ehden 2017 Micro N/A Yes N/A 6 Yes Yes Yes No No Lemoncello No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Phone booking Traditional No Hiking No N/A

Karam wines South Lebanon Jezzine Qattine 2002 Small 90,000 Yes N/A 13 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Online booking Modern No No Yes karamwines.com

Les Vigne du Marjes Nabatieh Marjayoun Marjayoun 2018 Micro 20,000 Yes 5 5 Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No N/A Modern No No No lesvignesdumarje.com

AdyarMount Lebanon

North Lebanon

Batroun

Jbeil

Kfifane

Maad2001 Medium N/A Yes N/A 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No Phone booking Monastic Yes No Yes adyar.org.lb


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