The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has announced a five year national strategy to improve rural tourism. The vast majority of rural tourism businesses are usually small scale. When rural tourism is sustainable, locals will be supported to preserve the value of local assets, and involved in developing their businesses.

The program is a joint initiative between the US Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with Hospitality Services, the company that organizes Horeca Exhibitions. This project is part of the five-year $41.7 million Lebanon Industry Value Chain Development (LIVCD) project brought by the USAID. The project is implemented by Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), a Washington-based private development company, with Beyond Beirut, a local development NGO, in cooperation with the MoT.

The strategy suggests marketing actions that improve the visibility of rural tourism destinations and attract high potential clientele. It focuses on the domestic market, expats living momentarily abroad, and on the large Diaspora. It will also work on improving the involvement of local communities and stakeholders in institutionalizing tourism, and in enforcing relevant regulations.

The plan proposes the establishment of a Common Action Mechanism which would implement the actions developed in this strategy.

Based on the recommendations of stakeholders, the mechanism previews the creation of a Rural Tourism Movement in Lebanon (RTM). It will bring together all active stakeholders in rural tourism to advocate for the adoption of public policies and improved legislation.