Micro and small businesses are fostered by increasing the competitiveness of Rural Tourism Network through touristic circuits such as “Rural Routes Between Jbeil and Batroun”, a pilot project that expanded economic opportunities in the rural areas of Lebanon.
It represents a circuit relating 20 rural villages between Jbeil and Batroun; the main objective is to boost the micro-economy sector in Jbeil and Batroun casas and mark new regions as a touristic destination. Several tourism packages are being promoted around these localities, promoting cultural, natural, archeological, artistic and gastronomic tourism.
Trip can be chosen by destination, theme or date; it can be organized by well-trained general or local guides from the different villages.
The implementation procedure started with fieldwork and survey process for each village in order to detect the attractions points and existing resources. Then trainings were delivered for local communities specially youth and adult women so they can promote their local businesses and provide touristic with needed facilities with standard qualities. The next phase was bout networking and promotion of the route and related packages with concerned local authorities and active associations, in addition to tour operators and offices of the ministry of tourism and Lebanese guides syndicate.
This project was launched during 2 phases. In the beginning, the circuit gathered 13 villages and was launched in 2009 in Byblos in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Jbeil Municipality. In 2016, The circuit was expanded to regroup 20 villages and was launched during 2 different ceremony; the first one in Jbeil in collaboration with Jbeil muncipality; the second one in Batroun, in collaboration with Batroun municipality.
