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Posted by Editor on 7th January 2012 at 04:58 PM
Libya: Tempting the Tourists
Libya has long relied on its oil industry for economic wealth; however the tourism sector could soon become a key area for Libya's growth.

Tempting the tourists

GV, various heritage sites

Graphic: Hussain Abed Al Wohaab Yousef - Revolutionary fighter / Hotel owner.

Red Castle in Tripoli

Graphic: Abud Al Bassat Ahmed Al Tajouri. Carpet maker, inhabitant of Tripoli old city.

GV Old City

Graphic: Fathi Ayoub – Used to run a travel agency.

Old City monument

Christian Church in the Old City

Tripoli market

Cafe

Beach

Graphic: Hafed Walda – lrchaeologist and Lecturer.

Kids running through Leptis Magna

Red Castle In Tripoli

Men City Round A Table At Café

Gv of People at Park In Tripoli
Audio transcript

---VOICEOVER---
Libya has a stunning coastline, mountains, the Sahara desert in the south of the country, and an incredible array of cultural heritage sites, so like its neighbours Tunisia and Egypt, Libya can certainly benefit from a prolific tourism industry.
---SOUNDBITE---(ARABIC W/ ENG VO)
(length 21 secs)
"People who are outside Libya don't know much about Libya. They don't have a very good opinion of it, they hear about the regime's bad behaviour, their thoughts are built around that, but once they come here they're amazed. Believe me they are amazed."
---VOICEOVER---
The barriers put up by the previous regime to hinder the tourism industry included restricting tourist visas, requiring all passports to have Arabic translations, and even denying foreign companies the chance to develop the neglected heritage sites.
---SOUNDBITE---(ARABIC W/ ENG VO)
(length 18 secs)
"Tourists loved Libya but the previous regime didn't make it easy for them. They opposed tourism companies as they set up business and then just said no and rejected it. There were so many obstacles."
---VOICEOVER---
Fathi who has an active interest in Libyas heritage, sees the potential for a thriving tourism industry once the dust from the unrest settles.
---SOUNDBITE---(ARABIC W/ ENG VO)
(length 32 secs for both)
"Libya is considered to be one of the largest countries which holds ancient treasures to be discovered in the world."
"The past forty two years of the previous regime tried to erase our heritage. So this needs a new study to create an industry, it is considered to be one of the best industries in the world, next to the oil industry."
---VOICEOVER---
Libya's lucrative oil and gas industry made tourism less of a priority than in Egypt and Tunisia, where it was a major contributor of jobs and foreign revenues.
The coast of the country has all the makings for a vibrant tourist sector, warm weather, beaches; heritage sites and proximity to Europe are all factors, which helped the industry thrive in its North African neighbours. It can do the same here, but only when the time is right.
---SOUNDBITE--- (ENGLISH)
"I think easily it will be linked to tourism, but I don't want to encourage mass tourism or cultural tourism till Libya stands on it own feet because too many tourists they will incur a lot of damage, irreparable damage, especially when the sites are not rehabilitated for that or not sort of prepared for that, so, and the people as well I think cultural tourism will be a great help for the local people of the sites but in the same time for the country in general highliting that people are coming to see the heritage, gives them pride and financial support as well."
---VOICEOVER---
The hope is that the new rulers in the National Transitional Council can do more to help this industry. If developed, tourism could eventually dent Libya's high jobless rate by creating work for tour guides, drivers, restaurant workers and hotel staff, as well as helping to diversify its oil dependent economy.
---SIGN OFF---

This is the NATO Channel, reporting from Libya.


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