Al Chouf al Aseel campaign to stimulate local economy and tourism

The ‘Authentic Chouf’ initiative was launched jointly between the Lebanese Franchise Association LFA, the Association of Chouf Merchants, Beitiddine Festival Committee and the Association of Al Chouf Cedar Nature Reserve and in cooperation with the ministries of tourism and economy. The campaign (www.authenticshouf.com) aims at stimulating economy and tourism in the Chouf area through highlighting the authentic and distinctive cultural, historic, religious, heritage and ecological features of an area extending from the Chouf coastal line up to the cedars of Baruk highlands. The launching ceremony was held at Mir Amin Castle, in Beiteddine, during which LFA Chief Charles Arbid stressed the significance of the ‘Chouf’ slogan as a distinctive point of reference for made-in-Chouf goods and services with the aim to enhance quality in compliance with international standards and later prepare them for export. In this respect, Agriculture Minister, Akram Chehayeb who is also the vice president of Chouf Cedar association pointed out that agriculture remains a basic component of the area’s economy supporting hundreds of households, adding that rural eco-tourism helps in the local marketing of agricultural products. (An Nahar, 1 July 2015)