The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) launched a campaign under the title of “Welcome to the Festivals” in partnership with UNICEF and in collaboration with the municipality of Baalbek, in an attempt to promote Baalbek International Festivals and to strengthen the bond between the city’s residents and the festivals.
LOST initiated the cleaning campaign for Baalbek’s temple surroundings, starting from the temple’s parking and reaching its main entrance. Dr. Rami Lakkis, founder of LOST, Mr. Hussein Lakkis, mayor of Baalbeck, Mr. Ali Othman, head of Baalbeck Mokhtar league, a number of municipality members, and more than 200 youth from Baalbeck participated in this campaign.
Dr. Rami Lakkis shed light on the goal behind this campaign and its timing as he assured that LOST is organizing it to reflect a civilized and cultural image of Baalbeck, a city full of cooperative works. A team of boys and girls from Baalbeck cleaned the entrances of Baalbek temple as a step to clearly show interest in tourism and festivals, and how this affects the economic development. Dr. Lakkis stated, “we are also looking forward to clear the minds for all Lebanese and tourists from negative thoughts, and to show that the city of Baalbek is a hosting civilized city, and its people are extremely hospitable and open to civil development. “What we are doing today is a prominent model on the way people participate together and how they feel for archeology, tourism, and public affairs”, Dr. Lakkis concluded.
The mayor of Baalbeck assured the promotion of the festivals as he said, “with the opening of Baalbek international Festivals and the summer season, the municipality decided to put hands together with the civil society where LOST, students, and parents are included to participate in a huge cleaning campaign for Baalbek entryway, together with the Roman temples entries on all sides in order to reflect a civilized image of the city as it deserves”. Not only is ensuring the comfort of tourists visiting Baalbek every summer essential, but also providing security by security forces in a welcomed and effective manner are among the campaign management. For this, the mayor stated, “we call upon all Lebanese citizens to visit the Roman ruins, and to enjoy this ancient history that is left from old civilizations, to bring this city closer to our hearts and to enjoy its celebrations”.
The participation of youth to volunteer in cleaning their city shows interest and awareness for the importance of the festivals, as well as the tourism sector. They all agree on the urgent need to develop it, knowing that this will result in providing them with jobs and improving the economic state in the region.
