The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) organized a conference entitled “The Role of Tourism and Culture in Promoting Civil Peace”, in cooperation with the French Embassy, which was attended by a number of active personalities and representatives of international organizations.
Dr. Ramy Lakkis delivered a speech in which he presented the reality of tourism in Baalbeck–Hermel, and highlighted the problems that hinder its development. He also stressed the role of tourism in the employment of labor, and the problem of unemployment.
The relationship between tourism and security was the focus of the speeches delivered by the governor of Baalbeck-Hermel, Mr. Bachir Khodr, and the representative of the Director General of the General Security Brigadier, Nabil Hanoun. They highly stressed the importance of security to promote and develop tourism, and informed the audience that steps will be taken to enhance security in Baalbeck-Hermel.
The director of the French Cultural Center, Mr. Luciano Rispoli announced that the French embassy is seeking to change the site of Baalbeck from the banned red zone to the green zone, where French tourists will be allowed to visit the city.
To conclude the conference, two sessions were held on the importance of developing the tourism sector in Baalbeck-Hermel, and obstacles that hinder tourism development, during which a group of experts and specialists in the field of tourism, cultural, environmental, media, and development participated. At the end of the conference, the participants announced a series of recommendations focused on how to develop the tourist sector in Baalbeck-Hermel, and intensify efforts among all sectors to remove obstacles that hinder tourism development.
