The Phoenician Road project to be launched

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) will announce on February 26, the Phoenician Road project, in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

“We will bring the Phoenician legacy and trade lines back to life, starting from Lebanese ports, which were at the heart of this heritage,” said Nada Sardouk, Director General of the MoT. Ports of Beirut, Byblos, Sidon, Tyre and Tripoli, will all be part of the project.

The project consists of revitalizing tourist relations, along with cultural, economic and social relations between the different countries of the Mediterranean Basin, where the Phoenician culture was spread.

Sardouk said that works on this project kicked off in late 2014 and they are working on the details, steps and finalization process. The UNWTO will officially add this project to its list, similar to the Silk Road project already activated.

According to Sardouk, the plan will require around one year to be finalized and launched. “We will work along with tour operators and tourist agencies to set packages to destination cities,” she said. A promotional campaign, work strategy and the announcement of the targeted cities will take place at a later stage.