Our project aim is to help and promote Lebanese tourism in general, specially the rural sector and the small localities in a perspective of sustainable development. This project seeks to contribute to the economic development of Lebanon, fostering economic expansion.

The general strategy of the Lebanese government was promoting Lebanon mainly for luxury tourism and Arab countries. Few years from now the general strategy of the Ministry of Tourism changed and promoted ecotourism, rural tourism…

Our network, want to propose an alternative to the hotel reservation system in Lebanon, witch is unfortunately, known in for its expensive prices.

There are economic alternatives which will offer charming lodging throughout Lebanon. It is possible to discover Lebanon with family or with friends at reasonable prices! This project will provide the opportunity to have access to all these possibilities…

The network main objectives are the follow:

• Promote an alternative accommodation to the hotel system in Lebanon
• Improve the promotion and marketing of lodgings so they may increase their market share and attract Lebanese and tourists who will spend money in the rural communities.
• Generate additional income for these lodges and other local businesses.
• Develop communication among key stakeholders
• Contribute in the general development of the tourism sector in Lebanon.

We created a big network regrouping most of the alternative lodgings in Lebanon. By alternative lodging, we understand any structure such as convents, centers, schools and inns… having a capacity of room reception, in dormitory or even in camp-site.

The criteria to classify lodges were not very restrictive, nor did they limit the classification by very specific standards. Through the network information will be provided on the facilities and the services available in each center so that the visitors can make a considered choice.

We methodically, collected a quantity of information, so as to obtain a data base concerning the alternative lodging (convents, centers, inns…).

In order to meet our definition of hostels and be eligible for our network, the following criteria should be fulfilled:

• The lodging should not be classified by the Ministry of Tourism as a hotel.
• The lodging should not have less that 3 rooms for sleeping
• The rate per person should not exceed USD 35 night, including breakfast
• The lodging should be safe for guests

We are very well informed about the brochures and the projects concerning lodgings in Lebanon. The Youth Hostels Federation presented in a special edition of “Touristica” (a Lebanese touristic magazine) the 9 lodgings recognized by the Federation. The Ministry will soon edit a new edition of this brochure with 13 lodgings affiliated to the federation. The brochures edited by SRI and INMA with the collaboration of the Ministry of Tourism presented a list of B&B, guesthouse, “Auberge”, hostels and camping’s. In these brochures we can count around 30 addresses of hotels, pensions, B&B and lodges. This list can also be consulted on the site of the Ministry of Tourism (www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb) as the alternative lodging directory. This list present classical hotels with lodging and is not at all exhaustive.

Al Dhiyafee is also a very interesting project conducted by ANERA. American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) was founded in 1968 in the aftermath of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Today, ANERA’s projects improve communities throughout the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, and Jordan. They work closely with local institutions, such as schools, universities, health facilities, cooperatives, municipalities, grassroots committees, and charitable associations, and assist them in improving the community services they provide. Al Diyafee program, developing the hospitality industry’s abilities, is in the process of developing a comprehensive training package for the owners, managers, and staff of cottage inns in Lebanon. This program provides a comprehensive program of support for cottage inns in rural areas throughout Lebanon in order to promote tourism and small business development. ANERA audited 58 cottage inns in nearly all geographic areas of the country including small hotels, B & B, youth hostels, convents…From all these lodges they will decided to work for now with 30 of them, training their staff, helping them to improve their marketing and trying in the end to create a network for them. Some of these lodges are part of our but we didn’t include any hotel in our network.

The network helping Tourism in Lebanon

About 38% of the country is under cultivation, with wheat, vegetables, fruit, tobacco and olives, the main crop categories. Industry ranges from cement and cables to textiles, clothing, furniture, canned merchandise and light metals. Tourism, one of the mainstays of the pre-war economy, is being revived. With peace established and reconstruction underway, Lebanon is once again serving as a commercial and touristic capital in the area.

Lebanon is famous for being an expensive destination which is still unfortunately absent from the large international circuits. The overall governmental policy wanted to support the customers of the Gulf Arab tourists while not showing any interest to Western tourists, with the incomes and the expenditure definitely less raised and more limited.

The governmental policy which once wanted to direct itself only towards one tourist elite; currently admits the importance of supporting Western tourism and tourism of young people. Let us notice, in particular, the effort made to encourage ecotourism in Lebanon through booklets editions, seminar organizations and so on.

The development of the areas located out of the great agglomerations can be done only by rural tourism, the ecotourism which attracts primarily customers with the limited means. The sector of rural tourism and ecotourism in Lebanon presents enormous potentialities still very little exploited. The littoral band which gathers the principal cities of Lebanon constitutes only one very small part of the total surface of the country. Rural areas in Lebanon are very wide and have multiple and unsuspected wealth. Our campaigns hide a lot of archeological sites from varied periods. The places of worship testify throughout Lebanon this incredible cohabitation of more than 18 different religious communities. The rural areas in Lebanon also allow the development of many sports activities like Skiing, trekking, caving, Kayaking, climbing…The traditional way of life as well as the customs and the habits preserved in many villages constitute a strong point of the development of tourism in rural medium. All this richness makes it possible to aim at varied customers: young people, reprocessed, sportsmen, nature lovers…

Lebanon needs to be promoted and has to propose visits all around the archeological sites and cities, as well as through the country site. Also, rural tourism and ecotourism need to be promoted to encourage a sustainable development in the Lebanese villages. We define ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people”.  A walk through a forest or a rafting trip is only ecotourism if it raises both awareness and funds to help protect the environment and benefit the people who live there.

We are conscious that currently the flow of tourists is relatively weak and this is due to the unstable political situation in the Middle-East. But on the long run, the situation should rectify and thus allowing the visitors very fast surge. The market should thus be ready to accommodate tourists from all walks of life.

Partners

• The Ministry of Tourism

The Lebanese ministry of tourism is the official governmental institution in charge of the promotion of the Lebanese tourism. It has a main responsibly of executing tourist projects, directly and indirectly. It is also responsible for coordinating and controlling all the professions, associations and institutions related to tourism and taking care of the development and management of the archeological in addition to historical sites and museums.

We are hoping to establish with the minister a long term collaboration to launch this project.

• HostelsClub.com

HostelsClub.com is a young and vibrant company dedicated to providing the budget traveler with a one-stop-shop for their travel accommodation needs. Our online portal provides travelers from all corners of the globe an online engine for searching and booking destinations worldwide. That means whether you are traveling to or from Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Oceania or Africa we will have what you are looking for. HostelsClub.com offers a wide range of accommodation choices suitable for all travelersÂ’ budgets and needs.

• MZ Architects

MZ Architects is a leading group that pushes the boundaries of architecture and design. Their work relates to spatial concepts, form and structure. Their approach, driven by the specificity of context expands the image of the modernist tradition, building upon its thoughts and developing its nations

Their designs in vision pure geometrical forms which characterize a volumetric pursuit with an exclusive attention to aesthetics that has become their architectural vocabulary.

Through their abiding interest in both the beauty of nature and the constant admiration of many artists, they uphold a standard of creating efficient architectural and sculptural variety. Their designs constantly take into consideration their core intention, which is to create projects that reduce negative impacts on the environment through energy and resource efficiency.

Operation’s procedure of the reservation of the alternative lodging in Lebanon.

Lebanon Roots want to position itself as a reservation center for the alternative lodging in Lebanon to help the booking procedure.

The booking procedure can be done by e-mail through Lebanon Roots web site and through the network web site or online, through the network web site.

The reservations can also be done by phone with Lebanon Roots.

The local phone reservations will be done without any commission added to the fixed rates of the lodgings.

For the online reservations, the clients will have the opportunity to pay by credit card. For a guaranteed booking the client will have to pay for one night and a fixed booking fee. Lebanon Roots will get only the fixed booking fee and will refund the night paid to the lodging.

The client will have to complete the payment of his stay upon his arrival to the lodging.

In the end of the way, the lodging will get the full fare rate that he fixed without any commission added by Lebanon Roots.