Tourism in Lebanon

The tourism industry in Lebanon has been historically important to the local economy and remains to this day to be a major source of revenue for Lebanon. Before the Lebanese Civil War, Lebanon was widely regarded as, "The Switzerland of the Middle East"." Often being cited as a financial and business hub where visitors can experience the Levantine Mediterranean culture.

Lebanon's diverse atmosphere and ancient history make it an important destination which is slowly rebuilding itself after continued turmoil. Lebanon offers plenty: from ancient Roman ruins, to well preserved castles, limestone caves, historic Churches and Mosques, beautiful beaches nestled in the Mediterranean Sea, world renown Lebanese cuisine, nonstop nightlife and discotheques, to mountainous ski resorts.

Significant private investment is currently being made in the modernization and expansion of this sector and international hotel companies have returned to Lebanon. Casino du Liban, which historically constituted a major tourist destination, reopened in 1996. Lebanon is the only country in the Arab world that offers skiing and related winter sports activities. The largest ski resort in the country has been expanded and modernized. The Government believes that, because of the return of peace and stability to the country and with the development of the necessary infrastructure, tourism will again contribute significantly to Lebanon's economy. Lebanon's tourism industry also relies on the large number of Lebanese living abroad, who return regularly to the country during the summer season.cite web |url=http://www.lebanonembassyus.org/country_lebanon/economy.html |title=Profile of Lebanon : Economy |accessdate=2008-06-10 |format= |work=The US embassy in Lebanon Site]

Cultural tourism

Lebanon is considered to be a mosaic of cultural diversity, where the Eastern and Western worlds meet in all their unique and historical richness. From Stone Age settlements to Phoenician city-states, from Roman temples to rock-cut Christian hermitages, from Crusader Castles to Mamluk mosques and Ottoman hammams, the country's historical and archaeological sites are a true encyclopedia of ancient and modern world history. [ [http://www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/eng/CultureHistory.asp http://www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/eng/CultureHistory.asp] , Explore Culture & History in Lebanon. Retrieved on 2008-06-15]

Lebanon has a long standing history of cultural tourism. Interest in the Lebanese Levantine culture was stirred following the visits of many European orientalists, scholars and poets particularly Alphonse de Lamartine, Ernest Renan and Victor Guérin.cite journal | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = informations sur le Liban et le proche-orient - citations | journal = Le journal des amis du Liban dans le monde
volume = | issue = | pages = | publisher = | location = | date = 7 June 2008 | url = http://www.rjliban.com/citations-en.htm | doi = | id = | accessdate = 2008-06-08] cite web |url=http://archaeology.about.com/od/bterms/g/byblos.htm
title=Byblos (Lebanon) |accessdate=2008-06-08 |format= |work=About.com] Lebanon's cultural tourism focal points are historic monuments, archaeological sites, cultural venues, traditional art, rural customs, religious festivals and pilgrimage.

Archaeotourism

Archaeology in Lebanon has an old and productive history, many archaeological sites have been excavated and some restored, yet many remain buried under inhabited areas within the cities.cite journal | last = Ward | first = William | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Archaeology in Lebanon in the Twentieth Century | journal = Biblical Archaeologist | volume = 57 | issue = 2 | pages = 66-85 | publisher = Scholars Press for the American Society of Oriental Research | location = | date = June 1994 | url = http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/900/930/930.1/ba-leb/index.html | doi = | id = | accessdate = 8-06-2008]

Museums

* Beirut National Museum, established in 1937 the museum exhibits about 100,000 objects, most of which are antiquities and medieval findings with approximately 1300 artifacts ranging in date from prehistoric times to the medieval Mamluk period.
* Gibran Museum, originally a monastery in Bsharri, it was transformed into a museum by the Gibran National Committee in honoring of the Lebanese American philosopher, writer, poet, painter and theologian Gibran Khalil Gibran. The museum exhibits Gibran's notebooks, furniture, personal library, and paintings. [ [http://www.lebanon.com/where/lebanonguide/museums.htm http://www.lebanon.com/where/lebanonguide/museums.htm] , Lebanon.com Guide Museums. Retrieved on 2008-06-18.]
* AUB Museum, the third oldest museum in the near east, the AUB Museum exhibits Levantine artifacts from the Early Stone Age to the Islamic period. [ [http://www.travel-to-lebanon.com/arts--culture/museums/ http://www.travel-to-lebanon.com/arts--culture/museums/] , Museums in Lebanon. Retrieved on 2008-06-18.]

Other major museums:

* Ameen Rihani Museum
* M. Farroukh Museum
* Museum and Library of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
* Baalbek Museum
* Dahesh Museum of Art
* Lebanese Heritage Museum
* Expo Hakel Lebanon
* Robert Mouawad Private Museum Lebanon
* Byblos Fossil Museum
* Sursock Museum
* Byblos Wax Museum
* Memory of Time Museum
* Sidon Soap Museum

Religious Tourism

Located in the heart of the two major world religions, Christianity and Islam, Lebanon has an old and rich religious background with diverse traditions. This is evident in the religious and multicultural blend that can be seen till present times and which gives a unique identity to the Lebanese society. Lebanon has been a refuge for persecuted religious groups from thousands of years, and thus adding a vast amount of religious heritage to the country in both Christian and Islamic sanctuaries and holy places. [ [http://www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/eng/ReligiousHeritage.asp http://www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/eng/ReligiousHeritage.asp] , Religious Heritage. Retrieved on 2008-06-15]

* Christian heritage:Christianity could be traced to its early days with the preaching of Jesus and his disciples in Tyre and Sidon and its expansion in the region by the apostle St. Peter. Referred in the Bible 70 times, Lebanon witnessed the Qana miracle where it is believed that Jesus turned water into wine. Other Christian sites include the Kadisha Valley and Byzantine/Orthodox sites in Sidon, Baalbek and other.

* Islamic heritage:Dating back to the 7th century AD, Islamic heritage was introduced to the region with the religion's expansion outside the Arabian peninsula. The most rich periods known for their Islamic art, architecture, learning, and culture are the Umayyad and the Abbasid periods which flourished in these times and revealed the extent of their aesthetic creativity. The best examples of these religious sites could be seen in Anjar (an 8th century Umayyad city) and other medieval mosques in Beirut, Tripoli and Sidon.

Rural Tourism

World heritage sites

Anjar

Inscribed as a world heritage site in 1984, Anjar was a commercial center for Levantine trade routes.cite web |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/293 |title= Anjar - UNESCO World Heritage Center |accessdate=2008-06-08 |format= |work=Unesco] . At only 1,300 years old, Anjar is one of Lebanon's newer archaeological sites.cite web |url=http://www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/eng/Aanjar.asp |title=Aanjar: Commercial Hub of the Umayyad Dynasty |accessdate=2008-06-09 |format= |work=] It was founded by the Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid ibn Abdel Malek (in the beginning of the 8th century) and takes its name from the Arabic "Ain Gerrah" meaning "the source of Gerrah", related to the Umayyad stronghold founded in the same era.cite web |url=http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/900/910/919/anjar/ |title=Places in Lebanon - Anjar |accessdate=2008-06-08 |format= |work=almashriq] The city's wide avenues are lined with mosques, palaces, baths, storehouses, and residences. The city ruins cover 114,000 square meters and are surrounded by large, fortified stone walls, over two meters thick and seven meters high. The rectangular city design is based on Roman city planning and architecture, with stonework and other features borrowed from the Byzantines. Two large avenues – the 20-meter-wide Cardo Maximus, running north to south, and the Decumanus Maximus, running east to west – divide the city into four quadrants. At the crossroads in the center of the city, four great tetrapylons mark the four corners of the intersection.

Baalbeck

During the Phoenician era, Baalbek was a small village where a triad of fertility gods were worshiped ( Baal-Shamash, Anat, and Aliyan). Little remains of the Phoenician structures of the city which was later named Heliopolis under the Hellenistic rule and extensively rebuilt by the Romans. After the arrival of the Romans to Phoenicia in 64 B.C., the city was transformed to a celebrated sanctuary where a Romanized triad of gods was worshiped ( Jupiter, Venus and Mercury) and it was overlaid during a period of two centuries by a series of colossal temples.cite press release | title = International Council on Monuments and Sites | publisher = Unesco press | date = May 1984 | url = http://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/294.pdf | accessdate = 2008-06-09] cite web |url=http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/900/910/919/baalbek/ |title=Places in Lebanon - Baalbak |accessdate=2008-06-09 |format= |work=] Modern-day visitors to Baalbek can enter the site through the grand Roman propylaea and walk through the two large colonnaded courtyards to reach the complex's great temples:

* The Temple of Jupiter was the largest Roman temple ever constructed. Today, just six of the original 54 Corinthian columns remain standing. Each column is 22 meters (66 ft) high and 2 meters (7.5 ft) in diameter, hinting at the temple's enormous size in the time of the Roman Empire .

* The Temple of Bacchus is the best-preserved Roman temple in the Middle East. Although smaller than the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Bacchus is still larger than the Parthenon in Athens. The dedication and purpose of this temple, and its relationship to the rest of the temple complex, remain a mystery.

* The Temple of Venus is a smaller, domed structure set apart to the southeast of the complex. During the Byzantine period, the temple was converted into a church honoring Saint Barbara.

* Only part of the staircase from the Temple of Mercury can still be seen on Sheikh Abdallah hill, a short distance away from the main temple site.cite web |url=http://www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/eng/Baalbek.asp |title= Baalbek: Roman City of the Sun |accessdate=2008-06-09 |format= |work=]
Baalbek was inscribed as a world heritage site in 1984.cite web |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/294 |title= Baalbek - UNESCO World Heritage Center |accessdate=2008-06-08 |format= |work=Unesco]

Byblos

Byblos was inscribed as a world heritage site in 1984. Inhabited since the Neolithic age, it witnessed the arrival of successive civilizations, from Phoenicians and Crusaders to Ottoman Turks. Byblos is a historical Mediterranean region dating back thousands of years and closely associated with the spread of the Phoenician alphabet.cite web |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/295 |title= Byblos - UNESCO World Heritage Center |accessdate=2008-06-08 |format= |work=Unesco]

The main touristic sites in Byblos:
* Ancient Phoenician Temples, that include the Great Temple or L-Shaped temple, Temple of Baalat Gebal, and the Temple of the Obelisks.
* Byblos Castle, a 12th century Crusader castle located near the port.
* Byblos Mosque, considered to be the oldest mosque in the world.
* Medieval City Wall
* Byblos Wax Museum
* St John the Baptist Church, a Crusader church built in 1150.
* Byblos Fossil Museum
* Historic Quarter and Souks, near the entrance of the archaeological site.

Qadisha Valley and Cedars Forest

Inscribed as a world heritage site in 1998, the Qadisha Valley and Cedars Forest (also known as the Forest of the Cedars of God) are considered to be of significant importance. The Qadisha valley was a settlement of early Christian monasticism, situated in a rugged landscape north of the Western Mountain Range of Lebanon. Near the valley lies the Cedars forest, a nature reserve dedicated for the preservation of the last Cedar trees, used in antiquity for the construction of Phoenician boats and religious buildings.cite web |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/850 |title= Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab) - UNESCO World Heritage Center |accessdate=2008-06-08 |format= |work=Unesco]

List of monasteries in the Qadisha Valley:
* The Qannubin Monastery, the oldest of the Maronite monasteries located in the valley.
* The Monastery of St Anthony of Qozhaya, traditionally founded in the 4th century by St Hilarion.
* The Monastery of Our Lady of Hawqa, founded in the late 13th century by villagers from Hawqa.
* The Monastery of Mar Sarkis, Ehden, successively built in the 8th century, 1198 and 1690.
* The Monastery of Mar Lishaa, comprising a Maronite solitary order and a Barefoot Carmelite order.

Other monasteries consist of the Monastery of Mar Girgis, with the Chapel of Mar Challita, the Monastery of Mar Yuhanna, the Monastery of Mar Abun, with the Hermitage of Mar Sarkis, and the Monastery of Mart Moura, Ehden.

Tyre

Tyre was inscribed as a world heritage site in 1984. It was the birthplace of the purple dye known as Tyrian purple and had founded several colonies in the Mediterranean such as Carthage and Cadiz. Many civilizations successively settled in Tyre from Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans to Crusaders and Ottoman Turks. Today, there are still many valuable remains mainly from the Roman era.cite web |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/299 |title= Tyre - UNESCO World Heritage Center |accessdate=2008-06-08 |format= |work=Unesco]

Major archaeological sites in Tyre: [ [http://www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/eng/Tyre/Tyre.asp http://www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/eng/Tyre/Tyre.asp] , Archaeological Virtual Tours: Sour (Tyre). Retrieved on 2008-06-15]
* Al-Bass site, having a three bay monumental arch, an extensive necropolis and a large hippodrome (all dating from the 2nd century AD to the 6th century AD).
* City site, located in the old Phoenician island city, it consists of colonnades, public baths, mosaics, streets, a vast district of civic buildings and a rectangular arena.

Ecotourism

Ecotourism in Lebanon has a rich background of natural diversity and a wide range of outdoor activities. With an original landscape consisting of mountains, forests, wildlife, beaches, snow fed rivers, caves, valleys and gorges, Lebanon is becoming more of an outdoor destination where people can visit its natural reserves and practice their ecotourism activities. [ [http://www.lebanonatlas.com/Eco-Tourism.htm www.lebanonatlas.com/Eco-Tourism.htm] , Rediscovery of Nature in Lebanon. URL accessed on June 10, 2008.]

Ecotourism activities and sports: [ [http://www.mea.com.lb/MEA/English/VisitLebanon/Ecotourism/ http://www.mea.com.lb/MEA/English/VisitLebanon/Ecotourism] , MEA Ecotourism, Lebanon: A destination for unique experience.]
* ATV (All-terrain vehicle)
* Rafting
* Hiking
* Caving
* Dirt biking
* Via Ferrata
* Rappelling
* Horse riding
* Snowboarding
* Mountain biking
* Mountain climbingNatural reserves:
* Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve
* Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve
* La Reserve Afqa
* Palm Islands Nature Reserve
* Tannourine Nature Reserve
* Tyre Beach Nature Reserve
* Yammouneh Nature Reserve

Lebanese outdoors

Lebanon's nature and geography, which are unique to the Middle East region, allow the practice of outdoor activities (mainly concentrated in the summer season). Nowadays, these activities are gaining more interest from nature lovers and becoming well equipped with the specific requirements and facilities. [cite web|url=http://www.ikamalebanon.com/eco_tourism/outdoor/out_act.htm|title=Outdoor Activities|format=|work = www.ikamalebanon.com|accessdate=2008-06-12]

Major Outdoor activities:
* Camping, a popular outdoor activity concentrated between the months of May and September.
* Caving, an important Lebanese natural heritage (3 of the major caves are Afqa Grotto, Roueiss cave and Ain El Libne).
* Cycling, a notable activity of recent interest.
* Hiking, an activity with a high number of trails (some of the hiking locations are Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve, Ramlieh, Qammouah, the Horsh Ehden reserve and Nahr Ibrahim).
* Paragliding, one of the best glide ports in the Middle East (the paragliding locations are The Cedars, Lassa, Miziara, Harissa, Barouk and Faraya).
* Rafting, a recently introduced sport practiced in locations like the Assi, the Litani and the Awali rivers.

Winter Sports

Although Lebanon is considered to be a summer destination, however winter sports are becoming more in demand due to the close geographical location of the mountain peaks from the Mediterranean sea and the unique winter experience that visitors have. Lebanese winter sports include Alpine skiing and Cross Country in addition to paragliding, snowmobiling, and hiking. [ [http://www.travel-to-lebanon.com/tourism/sports-and-leisure-in-lebanon/ski-and-winter-sports-in-lebanon.html www.travel-to-lebanon.com] , Ski and winter sports in Lebanon. URL accessed on June 9, 2008. ]

The Ski resorts:
* The Cedars, 1850-3087 m above sea level and 120 km from Beirut.
* Laqlouq, 1750-2200m above sea level and 60 km from Beirut.
* Faqra, 1800-2400 m above sea level and 45 km from Beirut.
* Faraya-Mzaar, 1850-2500 m above sea level and 45 km from Beirut.
* Qanat Bakiche, 1900 m above sea level and 60 km from Beirut.
* Zaarour, 1700-2000 m above sea level and 40 km from Beirut.

Leisure

Lebanon has a 200 km of seashore with about 300 days of sunshine a year, making it a favorable destination for leisure and activities that expand in differnet parts of the country. [cite web |url=http://www.travel-to-lebanon.com/tourism/sports-and-leisure-in-lebanon/ |title= Sports and Leisure in Lebanon |accessdate=2008-06-11]

Popular Beaches and water parks in Lebanon:
* Edde Sands
* Laguava Resort
* Cyan
* Janna sur mer
* Green Beach
* Bamboo bay
* Oceana beach resort
* Waves Aquapark
* Watergate Aquapark

Lebanese cuisine

The Lebanese cuisine combines the sophistication of European cuisines with the exotic ingredients of the Middle and Far East. Although the Lebanese cuisine has a recent popularity throughout the world, however its history dates back to pre-biblical times. This eastern Mediterranean cuisine, which is located in a relatively small geographical area, has had a major influence on Middle Eastern cuisine and other neighboring culinary cultures. Nowadays, Lebanese cuisine is known throughout the world, especially with the recent emphasis on the health benefits of Mediterranean cuisine. The significant importance of this ancient cuisine has also inspired professional chefs and restaurateurs across the country to feature exciting Lebanese items on their menus. [ [http://www.sallys-place.com/food/cuisines/lebanon.htm http://www.sallys-place.com/food/cuisines/lebanon.htm] , Ethnic Cuisine: Lebanon, Joe George. Rettrieved on 2008-06-16.]

Lebanese crafts

Lebanese crafts have a sense of style and beauty that attract many tourists interested in these unique handcrafted items which are considered as a significant souvenir of the tour. The production method of Lebanese crafts are mainly concentrated in small villages where the old skills are handed from generation to generation, produced from local raw materials and carefully made with a sophisticated aesthetic and skill. Different regions of the country specialize in various handicrafts such as basketry, carpet weaving, ceramics and pottery, copper and metalworking, embroidery, glass blowing, and gold and silver smithing. Some Lebanese villages are also known for their finely crafted church bells. [ [http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Lebanese.html http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Lebanese.html] , CRAFTS AND HOBBIES.]

Popular tourist destinations in Lebanon

* Sidon a 6,000 year old city which features the Sidon Sea Castle and the Old City of Saida.
* Faraya Mzaar Kfardebian a prominent Lebanese ski area and mountain resort.
* Beirut the capital city which features thriving nightlife, fantastic restaurants, and the famous Raouche Rock
* Harissa where visitors can take the Téléférique up Mount Harissa to visit Our Lady of Lebanon.
* Jeita Grotto recognized as one of the most magnificent limestone caves in the world.
* Beiteddine a small city in Chouf which hosts the Beiteddine Palace and the Beiteddine Festival.
* Batroun a small city in north Lebanon which has the famous Mousaylaha citadel built by the Crusaders.
* Tripoli, Lebanon the second largest city which has seen many empires, with an infamous souk, the 5,000 year old Tripoli Castle, and one of the oldest ports in the world.

Lebanese festivals

There is a wide range of festivals that take place in Lebanon, especially in the summer season where festivities including both Lebanese and international performers take place in major archaeological and historical sites, including Baalbek, Byblos (Jbail), and Beiteddine. [ [http://www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/eng/Festivals.asp http://www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/eng/Festivals.asp] , Lebanese Ministry of Tourism, Lebanon's Festivals. Retrieved on 2008-06-15.]

Major Lebanese festivals:
* Aanjar Festival
* Al Bustan Festival
* Baalbeck International Festival
* Beiteddine Festival
* Byblos International Festival
* Deir el Qamar Festival
* Tyre Festival

tatistics and economy

Tourism was once a very important contributor to Lebanon's economy, accounting for almost 20 percent of the GDP in the 2 decades before the start of the civil war. Since the end of the war, the sector has managed to revive somewhat, but tourism has yet to return to its pre-war levels. Tourism in 1999 accounted for 9 percent of the GDP. In 2001, the tourism sector was one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, with the number of tourists visiting Lebanon between 1996 and 2000 growing at the rate of 14 percent annually.cite web |url=http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Lebanon.html |title=LEBANON |accessdate=2008-06-10 |format=html |work=] In 2003 the tourism industry contributed 6.374 billion U.S. dollars to the Lebanese economy and in 2005 the receipts per capita reached 1,433 U.S. dollars.cite web|url=http://unwto.org/facts/eng/pdf/indicators/new/ITR05_ME_US$.pdf|title=Tourism Market Trends, 2006 Edition – Annex|format=.pdf|work = World Tourism Organization |accessdate=2008-06-10] In 2006 the ministry of Tourism counted 373,037 admissions to the country's main ministry run touristic sites.cite web|url=http://www.cas.gov.lb/addsearch_en.asp|title=Central Administration for Statistics - frequenting touristic sites |format=|work = Lebanese Republic - Central Administration for Statistics |accessdate=2008-06-10]

Recent years

References

External links

* [http://www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb/eng/index.asp Lebanese Ministry of Tourism]
* [http://www.travel-to-lebanon.com/ Travel guide to Lebanon]
* [http://www.skileb.com/webcam/cam.asp Ski Lebanon live webcam]
* [http://www.ikamalebanon.com/eco_tourism/eco_tourism.htm Ecotourism in Lebanon]