Religious and cultural
tourism plan by government

2,000 sites to be mapped

A program to promote cultural and religious tourism was launched today by the recently established Cultural Religious Tourism (CRT) unit, which is affiliated to the Office of the Prime Minister. The program is being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism.

The Italian Cooperation Office funded €297,000 ($328,000) to implement the project.

The CRT unit has produced a map detailing 250 Islamic and Christian religious sites. An additional 1,750 religious sites will also be mapped soon.

Roula Ajouz, Project Coordinator, said: “We have published a book that includes the sites and directions. We have also created an app that includes images of the sites and map guides.”

The sites will also be available on the Ministry of Tourism’s website.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri said: “Cultural and religious tourism is sustainable, contributes to sector growth of, and creates job opportunities.”

The Minister of Tourism Avedis Guidanian said that the ministry is working to develop the infrastructure of the touristic religious locations.

Ajouz said that in the second phase of the project the CRT will be working with the municipalities for sustainable development and focus on guest houses.