Reviving a Collapsing Country’s Economy Through Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Tourism in Lebanon

Ali Abdallah

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11

| Peer-Reviewed

Reviving a Collapsing Country’s Economy Through Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Tourism in Lebanon

Ali Abdallah

Published in International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management (Volume 6, Issue 1)

Received: 18 March 2022 Accepted: 7 April 2022 Published: 20 April 2022

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

As cultural and heritage tourism have proven to be effective tools for economic growth for countries, this research aims to identify whether cultural and heritage tourism have been effective for the revival of tourism in Lebanon. The country witnessed a steep decline in tourism numbers in recent years due to economic instabilities. With the devastating outbreak of COVID-19 tourism in Lebanon came to a halt. This research explores the use of cultural and heritage tourism as a means of tourism revival for Lebanon, and as a solution to the bad economic downfall. This research illustrates how regardless of all turbulence the country has witnessed over the years, tourism in Lebanon is unique as it does not bow down to the pressures of various disruptions. There is, however, a major need for Lebanon to resolve its continuous political conflicts and find a “winning formula” among all political parties in order to grow its economy through cultural tourism while dealing or managing any political turmoil which may sporadically rear its ugly head. Lebanon is also in need to strengthen its cultural connection with other ‘brother’ countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman and learn from the success stories of tourism and cultural heritage development happening there. The research demonstrates an essential necessity for Lebanon to improve and re-store heritage infrastructure in the country. The damage caused by the civil war, Beirut port blast, and poor economic downturn prevented restoration efforts to all heritage sites in Lebanon.

Published in	International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management (Volume 6, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11
Page(s)	1-7
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Culture, Cultural Heritage, Heritage, Lebanon, Tourism, Tourism Economy

References

[1]	Abouzeid, M., Habib, R., Jabbour, S., Mokdad, A., & Nuwayhid, I. (2020). Lebanon's humanitarian crisis escalates after the Beirut blast. The lancet.
[2]	Ahmad, Y. (2006). The Scope and Definitions of Heritage: From Tangible to Intangible. International Journal of Heritage studies, 292-300.
[3]	Al-hagla, K. S. (2010). Sustainable urban development in historical areas using the tourist trail approach: A case study of the Cultural Heritage and Urban Development (CHUD) project in Saida, Lebanon. Cities, 27 (4), 234-248.
[4]	Barakat, S. (2007). Postwar reconstruction and the recovery of cultural heritage: critical lessons from the last fifteen years. Cultural heritage in postwar recovery, 26.
[5]	Barakat, S. (2021). Necessary conditions for integrated approaches to the post-conflict recovery of cultural heritage in the Arab World. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 27 (5), 433-448.
[6]	Barakat, S., & Zyck, S. A. (2011). Housing reconstruction as socio-economic recovery and state building: evidence from Southern Lebanon. Housing Studies, 26 (1), 133-154.
[7]	Bassil, C., Saleh, A. S., & Anwar, S. (2019). Terrorism and tourism demand: A case study of Lebanon, Turkey and Israel. Current Issues in Tourism, 22 (1), 50-70.
[8]	Briedenhann, J., & Wickens, E. (2004). Tourism routes as a tool for the economic development of rural areas—vibrant hope or impossible dream? Tourism Management, 71-79.
[9]	Britannica, (2021), Lebanese Civil War: Lebanese history, https://www.britannica.com/event/Lebanese-Civil-War, (Accessed: 19/10/2021).
[10]	Camilleri, M. A. (2018). The tourism industry: An overview. Travel marketing, tourism economics and the airline product, 3-27.
[11]	Chang, C. L., McAleer, M., & Ramos, V. (2020). A Charter for sustainable tourism after COVID-19. Sustainability, 12 (9), 3671.
[12]	Devi, S. (2020). Lebanon faces humanitarian emergency after blast. Elsevier Public Health Emergency Collection, 456.
[13]	El Maalouf, H., Ghadban, S., & Shames, M. (2015). Nightlife tourism: A blessing or a curse for host communities? “A case study on Gemmayzeh, Lebanon”. Journal of tourism research & hospitality, 4 (2).
[14]	Farha, L., & Abi Jaoude, J. (2020). Lebanese Healthcare System: How Will the Aftermath Look? Cureus, 12 (9).
[15]	Financial Times. (2013), Lebanon launches tourism revival campaign, https://www.ft.com/content/d38b84d6-58ea-11e2-b59d-00144feab49a, (Accessed: 20/10/2021).
[16]	Fricke, A. (2005). Forever nearing the finish line: heritage policy and the problem of memory in postwar Beirut. International Journal of Cultural Property, 12 (2), 163-181.
[17]	Ghadban, S., Shames, M., Arrage, J., & Fayad, A. (2017). Rural tourism in Lebanon: what does the market reveal? Managment and Avenir, 165-185.
[18]	Hotelier. (2008), Reviving Lebanon’s hospitality industry, https://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/operations/front-of-house/food-beverage/2716-reviving-lebanons-hospitality-industry, (Accessed: 20/10/2021).
[19]	HRW. (2021), Lebanon, https://www.hrw.org/middle-east/n-africa/lebanon, (Accessed: 19/10/2021).
[20]	IDAL. (2021), Invest in Lebanon: Tourism, https://investinlebanon.gov.lb/en/sectors_in_focus/tourism, (Accessed: 20/10/2021).
[21]	Isma'eel, H., El Jamal, N., Al-Chaer, E., Haj-Ali, W., & Hamadeh, G. (2021). Reforming Healthcare Practice in View of the Economic Crisis in Lebanon: The Case of Cardiovascular Care. Mediterranean Journal of Emergency Medicine & Acute Care, 1-12.
[22]	Issa, I. A., & Altinay, L. (2006). Impacts of political instability on tourism planning and development: The case of Lebanon. Tourism Economics, 12 (3), 361-381.
[23]	Jaspal, R., Assi, M., & Maatouk, I. (2020). Potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health outcomes in societies with economic and political instability: case of Lebanon. Mental Health Review Journal, 215-219.
[24]	Leiper, N. (1979). The framework of tourism: Towards a definition of tourism, tourist, and the tourist industry. Annals of Tourism Research, 390-407.
[25]	Masri, G. (2010). Resurrecting Phoenicia: Tourist landscapes and national identity in the heart of the Lebanese capital. City tourism: National capital perspectives, 225-238.
[26]	Massih, J. A. (2010). The archaeological heritage of Lebanon. Near Eastern Archaeology, 73 (2-3), 68-72.
[27]	Morakabati, Y. (2013). Tourism in the Middle East: Conflicts, crises and economic diversification, some critical issues. International journal of tourism research, 15 (4), 375-387.
[28]	Mulino, I. (2019). Heritage, tourism, and the politics of national pride. The Baalbeck International Festival in Lebanon. Quaderni storici, 371-389.
[29]	Ndoro, W., Mumma, A., & Abungu, G. (2009). Legal Definition of Heritage. Cultural Heritage and the Law, 25-35.
[30]	Peleggi, M. (1996). National heritage and global tourism in Thailand. Annals of Tourism Research, 432-448.
[31]	Richards, G. (2000). Tourism and the world of culture and heritage. Tourism recreation research, 25 (1), 9-17.
[32]	Shackley, M. (2010). Managing the Cedars of Lebanon: Botanical Gardens or Living Forests? Current Issues in Tourism, 417-425.
[33]	Silberberg, T. (1995). “Cultural Tourism and Business Opportunities for Museums and Heritage Sites.” Tourism Management, 361-365.
[34]	Stankov, U., Filimonau, V., & Vujičić, M. (2020). A mindful shift: an opportunity for mindfulness-driven tourism in a post-pandemic world. An International Journal of Tourism Space, Place and Environment, 703-712.
[35]	Stratan, A., Perciun, R., & Gribincea, C. (2015). Identifying Cultural Tourism Potentials in Republic of Moldova through Cultural Consumption among Tourists. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 116-121.
[36]	Tang, C. F., & Abosedra, S. (2014). Small sample evidence on the tourism-led growth hypothesis in Lebanon. Current Issues in Tourism, 17 (3), 234-246.
[37]	Theodora, Y. (2020). Cultural heritage as a means for local development in Mediterranean historic cities—the need for an urban policy. Heritage, 3 (2), 152-175.
[38]	Wahome, E., & Gathungu, J. (2021). Redefining Sustainability in the Conservation and Promotion of the Cultural Heritage Tourism Product in Kenya. Tourism Destination Management in a Post-Pandemic Context, 257-271.
[39]	World Bank. (2021), The World Bank In Lebanon, https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lebanon/overview#1, (Accessed: 19/10/2021).
[40]	Worldometer. (2021), Corona virus: Lebanon, https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/lebanon/, (Accessed: 20/10/2021).
[41]	Wu, F., Zhao, S., Yu, B., Chen, Y. M., Wang, W., & Song, Z. G. (2020). A new coronavirus associated with human respiratory disease in China. Nature, 579, 265-269.
[42]	Youssef, J. (2020). Economic Overview Lebanon. European Centre for Economic Studies of the Arab Orient.
[43]	Zu, Z., Di Jiang, M., Xu, P., Chen, W., Ni, Q., Lu, G. M., & Zhang, L. J. (2020). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Perspective from China. Radiology, 296 (2).

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Ali Abdallah. (2022). Reviving a Collapsing Country’s Economy Through Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Tourism in Lebanon. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management, 6(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Ali Abdallah. Reviving a Collapsing Country’s Economy Through Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Tourism in Lebanon. Int. J. Hosp. Tour. Manag. 2022, 6(1), 1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Ali Abdallah. Reviving a Collapsing Country’s Economy Through Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Tourism in Lebanon. Int J Hosp Tour Manag. 2022;6(1):1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11,
  author = {Ali Abdallah},
  title = {Reviving a Collapsing Country’s Economy Through Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Tourism in Lebanon},
  journal = {International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management},
  volume = {6},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-7},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhtm.20220601.11},
  abstract = {As cultural and heritage tourism have proven to be effective tools for economic growth for countries, this research aims to identify whether cultural and heritage tourism have been effective for the revival of tourism in Lebanon. The country witnessed a steep decline in tourism numbers in recent years due to economic instabilities. With the devastating outbreak of COVID-19 tourism in Lebanon came to a halt. This research explores the use of cultural and heritage tourism as a means of tourism revival for Lebanon, and as a solution to the bad economic downfall. This research illustrates how regardless of all turbulence the country has witnessed over the years, tourism in Lebanon is unique as it does not bow down to the pressures of various disruptions. There is, however, a major need for Lebanon to resolve its continuous political conflicts and find a “winning formula” among all political parties in order to grow its economy through cultural tourism while dealing or managing any political turmoil which may sporadically rear its ugly head. Lebanon is also in need to strengthen its cultural connection with other ‘brother’ countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman and learn from the success stories of tourism and cultural heritage development happening there. The research demonstrates an essential necessity for Lebanon to improve and re-store heritage infrastructure in the country. The damage caused by the civil war, Beirut port blast, and poor economic downturn prevented restoration efforts to all heritage sites in Lebanon.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Reviving a Collapsing Country’s Economy Through Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Tourism in Lebanon
AU  - Ali Abdallah
Y1  - 2022/04/20
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11
T2  - International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management
JF  - International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management
JO  - International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management
SP  - 1
EP  - 7
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-1800
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11
AB  - As cultural and heritage tourism have proven to be effective tools for economic growth for countries, this research aims to identify whether cultural and heritage tourism have been effective for the revival of tourism in Lebanon. The country witnessed a steep decline in tourism numbers in recent years due to economic instabilities. With the devastating outbreak of COVID-19 tourism in Lebanon came to a halt. This research explores the use of cultural and heritage tourism as a means of tourism revival for Lebanon, and as a solution to the bad economic downfall. This research illustrates how regardless of all turbulence the country has witnessed over the years, tourism in Lebanon is unique as it does not bow down to the pressures of various disruptions. There is, however, a major need for Lebanon to resolve its continuous political conflicts and find a “winning formula” among all political parties in order to grow its economy through cultural tourism while dealing or managing any political turmoil which may sporadically rear its ugly head. Lebanon is also in need to strengthen its cultural connection with other ‘brother’ countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman and learn from the success stories of tourism and cultural heritage development happening there. The research demonstrates an essential necessity for Lebanon to improve and re-store heritage infrastructure in the country. The damage caused by the civil war, Beirut port blast, and poor economic downturn prevented restoration efforts to all heritage sites in Lebanon.
VL  - 6
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Ali Abdallah

Tourism Management, Al Rayyan International University with the University of Derby, Doha, Qatar

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Ali Abdallah. (2022). Reviving a Collapsing Country’s Economy Through Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Tourism in Lebanon. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management, 6(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Ali Abdallah. Reviving a Collapsing Country’s Economy Through Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Tourism in Lebanon. Int. J. Hosp. Tour. Manag. 2022, 6(1), 1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Ali Abdallah. Reviving a Collapsing Country’s Economy Through Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Tourism in Lebanon. Int J Hosp Tour Manag. 2022;6(1):1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11,
  author = {Ali Abdallah},
  title = {Reviving a Collapsing Country’s Economy Through Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Tourism in Lebanon},
  journal = {International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management},
  volume = {6},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-7},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhtm.20220601.11},
  abstract = {As cultural and heritage tourism have proven to be effective tools for economic growth for countries, this research aims to identify whether cultural and heritage tourism have been effective for the revival of tourism in Lebanon. The country witnessed a steep decline in tourism numbers in recent years due to economic instabilities. With the devastating outbreak of COVID-19 tourism in Lebanon came to a halt. This research explores the use of cultural and heritage tourism as a means of tourism revival for Lebanon, and as a solution to the bad economic downfall. This research illustrates how regardless of all turbulence the country has witnessed over the years, tourism in Lebanon is unique as it does not bow down to the pressures of various disruptions. There is, however, a major need for Lebanon to resolve its continuous political conflicts and find a “winning formula” among all political parties in order to grow its economy through cultural tourism while dealing or managing any political turmoil which may sporadically rear its ugly head. Lebanon is also in need to strengthen its cultural connection with other ‘brother’ countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman and learn from the success stories of tourism and cultural heritage development happening there. The research demonstrates an essential necessity for Lebanon to improve and re-store heritage infrastructure in the country. The damage caused by the civil war, Beirut port blast, and poor economic downturn prevented restoration efforts to all heritage sites in Lebanon.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Reviving a Collapsing Country’s Economy Through Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Tourism in Lebanon
AU  - Ali Abdallah
Y1  - 2022/04/20
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11
T2  - International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management
JF  - International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management
JO  - International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management
SP  - 1
EP  - 7
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-1800
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhtm.20220601.11
AB  - As cultural and heritage tourism have proven to be effective tools for economic growth for countries, this research aims to identify whether cultural and heritage tourism have been effective for the revival of tourism in Lebanon. The country witnessed a steep decline in tourism numbers in recent years due to economic instabilities. With the devastating outbreak of COVID-19 tourism in Lebanon came to a halt. This research explores the use of cultural and heritage tourism as a means of tourism revival for Lebanon, and as a solution to the bad economic downfall. This research illustrates how regardless of all turbulence the country has witnessed over the years, tourism in Lebanon is unique as it does not bow down to the pressures of various disruptions. There is, however, a major need for Lebanon to resolve its continuous political conflicts and find a “winning formula” among all political parties in order to grow its economy through cultural tourism while dealing or managing any political turmoil which may sporadically rear its ugly head. Lebanon is also in need to strengthen its cultural connection with other ‘brother’ countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman and learn from the success stories of tourism and cultural heritage development happening there. The research demonstrates an essential necessity for Lebanon to improve and re-store heritage infrastructure in the country. The damage caused by the civil war, Beirut port blast, and poor economic downturn prevented restoration efforts to all heritage sites in Lebanon.
VL  - 6
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download