COMMERCIAL TOURISM ITALY (CTI) in collaboration with the INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF POPULAR PEOPLES (CISP) has promoted in the European market the potential of 5 areas in the Mediterranean that are still underdeveloped in terms of tourism, but hold an architectural, historical and naturalistic wealth that deserves to be explored. The aim of the project to discover the Hidden Mediterranean (Hidden Mediterranean) was to present destinations that shared common values and wanted to introduce travelers to the lesser-known attractions of their cultural, natural and historical heritage.
Sustainable tourism underpins the socio-economic development of territories, providing for a constant exchange between host communities, travelers and places, with responsibility toward the environment at its core.
After attending dedicated workshops, at the TWE product manager Federico Bora has been assigned a sight inspection in Lebanon, in the Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve, an area that attracts visitors from Lebanon and around the world being a veritable mosaic of culture and breathtaking landscapes, as well as holding unique biodiversity. Wildlife also lives undisturbed in the area, including hyenas, coyotes, jackals and wild boars. It is therefore an ideal location for conducting ecotourism activities.
The Jabal Moussa Protection association, which founded the park’s protected area project, initially faced opposition from local villages. Three times in fact, the association suffered damage to its facilities until the locals themselves realized the benefits and opportunities it could offer them.
Today the association is run entirely by local people, and hospitality arrangements have been found to allow tourists to stay in guesthouses, directly in the homes of families. Twelve trails with signage have been set up, winding in loops throughout the park, divided by difficulty. In this relatively small area, one can see how the surrounding landscape changes rapidly: to the north there is an area with features reminiscent of our alpine and karst landscapes, while to the south there are broadleaf trees, such as oaks, junipers, and a variety of fruit trees.
Frederick’s visit lasted 5 days in which, always accompanied by a local guide, he was able to walk the various trekking trails and to reach a variety of historical points of interest: a 1.5-kilometer-long Roman staircase, Hadrian’s inscriptions that demarcated the emperor’s exclusive territory, an underground cistern, an altar used by the Romans for sacrifices to the gods, and old houses in a remote village where the inhabitants grew silkworms. In addition to the treks, he participated in a workshop to create a Lebbedeh, a characteristic local headdress made from water, laundry soap and wool, and enjoyed the local cuisine, which is very diverse and rich in vegetables, meat and other Phoenix specialties. The typical drink served wasarak, a traditional alcoholic beverage with a distinct anise flavor. Finally, he participated in a performance of language songs.
Jabal Moussa Association also organizes activities with schools, has a nursery with a greenhouse dedicated to maintaining endemic species, and sells products prepared by families, such as honey and condiments, through a cooperative.
The final event, during which the Reserve’s new visitor center with a small museum attached was inaugurated, took place last May 17 and 18.
Following the visit, our product manager made assessments of the area, and it became apparent that the remarkable and Positive involvement of local people, of that employed directly by the Reserve but also and especially of those who are involved indirectly, generating a significant induced income for Lebanon, which to date unfortunately suffers from a difficult economic situation. More arrangements could be had, especially for the development of guesthouse facilities (guesthouses). In addition, it was proposed to expand the tourism offerings, to date mainly focused on trekking, with other products geared toward discovery and knowledge of the destination’s culture, life and history.
Surely this is already a good achievement for Jabal Moussa and an excellent example where the coexistence of humans and ecosystem protection is achieving positive results. Travel World Escape believes that the Jabal Moussa project is an important tool for promoting and enhancing sustainable tourism in Lebanon, helping to take a closer look at other parts of the country, and is already studying and considering how to integrate this deeply connected destination into one of its Regenerative Journeys.
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