Government long-term neglect of the tourism sector in South Lebanon confines it to few modest landmarks

As Safir newspaper published a report on the situation of tourism in the accessible part of the Litani River and which is unable to develop due to the restrictions of the authorities regarding setting up touristic resorts in the areas stretching from Khardali Bridge to Tamra and Mahmudieh farms as these plans remain under study according to the newspaper.

The report notes that tourism in this area is limited to few restaurants open in the summer and in the winter and some popular cafes as this are does not have any historical landmarks save for the Sheqeef (Beaufort) castle which is now being rehabilitated with financial assistance from the Kuwaiti Fund for Economic Development and in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism.  The newspaper notes that the president of the syndicates of touristic places in the South, Ali Tabaja, demands from the cabinet and notably from the Ministry of Tourism and the to place the South on its tourism map, provide administrative and financial incentives, such as lower taxation and electricity fees, similarly to the industrial sector, facilitate authorizations for building touristic resorts in the South, and pay compensations for those who suffered losses during the Israeli war of 2006.

The owners of restaurants and resorts in the South are also demanding that the government equip this area with the necessary infrastructure as well as refurbish the main roads leading to these resorts as this will contribute to developing projects in tourism which will surely contribute to the development of the whole region.

Source: Al-Safir 24 June 2014