Libyan tourism is emerging from a long period of isolation with a clear message: ecotourism and preservation of Libya's unique heritage must come first. As a result Libyan travel companies and operators were instructed to follow strict code of conduct to implement the Libyan Tourism Board's guidelines for safe tourism in Libya: Libyan tourism companies must appoint a guide for every visitor entering the country, and also appoint a Tourist Police for groups of five or more.

Although this move (also implemented by Algeria) has angered some enthusiasts from around the world, we, as a Libyan tour operator, fully welcome and support the Libyan Board of Tourism, for one simple reason: the theft and the desecration of the Sahara's vast and unique geological, archaeological and prehistoric priceless treasures must be stopped. Unregulated tourism in such environment is just not possible at this age - an important factor often overlooked by most travellers.

Libya is intent to become the leading tourist destination of the future. Explore this website and you will realise the reasons why. Stone-age civilisations; hundreds of thousands of prehistoric art galleries and museums the world has never seen before; vast and unexplored empty space; the best beaches in the Mediterranean (the world's paradise and cradle of civilisation); Berber, Greek, and Roman world heritage sites; and the hottest temperature in the world. There is no other place on earth that can rival such remarkable landscape.

 

 

World Heritage Sites in Libya:

Libya is the home of several impressive archaeological and cultural sites that are truly unique and unparalleled in the whole world. The hardly known valleys of the Libyan Sahara are the home of an array of dazzling, sophisticated, artistic and stylish prehistoric civilisations the world has never seen before. Five of these sites have been added to the World Heritage List between 1982 and 1986. These sites are now the responsibility of the whole of humanity and not just Libya, to protect, preserve and ultimately explore and enjoy. We kindly invite our visitors and all tourists to report to us or to the appropriate authorities any illegal activity within these protected sites.

 

These world heritage sites are: Tadrart Acacus (Akakous), Cyrene, Leptis Magna, Sabratha, and the ancient Berber oasis of Ghadames.

The prehistoric site of Tadrart Acacus, which is a continuation of Tassili n'Ajjer in Algeria, is very rich in prehistoric drawings, paintings and engravings, some of which are slowly deteriorating as a result of visitors and photographers wetting them for better photos, theft and vandalism among other acts of barbarism.

Old Ghadames (the pearl of the desert) is being slowly abandoned as its inhabitants are moving out to the new dwellings of the oasis. The remaining families who still live within its covered streets are finding it increasingly hard to maintain the city.

The three coastal sites of Cyrene, Leptis and Sabratha provide experts and archaeologists from Europe and elsewhere with unique opportunities to explore and study the Berber, Phoenician, Greek and Roman civilisations of North Africa. Leptis Magna is in fact the world's most complete and ancient Roman city outside Italy.

 

Libyan Ministry of Tourism:

The Libyan Board of Tourism And Traditional Industries:

The General People's Committee for Tourism and Traditional Industries was established to oversee and regulate tourism in Libya. Its website provides information about Libya and Libyan tourism, including various official reports which can be downloaded as .PDF files.

The Libyan General Board of Tourism and Traditional Industries
Address:
AlJala Road
P.O. Box 82063
P.O. Box 71981
Tripoli, Libya
Tel: (+218) 21 3334673
Tel: (+218) 21 503 041
Fax: (+218) 21 4445336
E-Mail: contact(at)libyan-tourism(dot)org
Internet: Libyan Tourism Board: http://www.libyan-tourism.org

 

Libyan Tourism Reports, from the Libyan Tourism Board:

Law 7 Regarding Tourism in Libya:
http://www.libyan-tourism.org/UserFiles/pdf/laws%20reguations/law0%207.pdf
If the above link to Law 7 becomes unavailable, you can read it here.

 

Tourist Guide And His Role in Establishing The Principles of Cultural Tourism, by Omar Sai'd, Libyan Tourism Board, Tourism Companies Department: (in Arabic):

 

Principles of Sahara Tourism: a study of tourism in the Sahara by Dr. Mustafa Salem, Ali Sbita and Omar Hamouda, from Alfath University, Tripoli: (in Arabic):

 

 

 

Temehu.com:
www.temehu.com
Tourist Information Centre & Tour Operator:

Owing to lack of proper online tourist information centres relating to Libya, we have decided to build our site to fill this gap and provide complete information about Libya and Libyan tourism, including the Sahara and its wildlife, Libyan art, crafts and jewellery, culture, history, detailed travel guides, visa help files, Libyan cities and tourist sites, interactive maps, desert and travel routes, Libyan food, an array of tours, lists of Libyan websites and ports, Libyan prehistoric art galleries, photo gallery, video gallery, hotel and hostel gallery, Libya's first online museum of Libyan museums, and much more. Welcome to Temehu.com.

 

 

Libyan Tourism News:

 

 

Excess Baggage: BBC: London: 29 May 2010: Libya:

John McCarthy discusses the development of tourism in Libya with Conde Nast Traveller editor Sarah Miller and Roger Jones.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00sh3fy/Excess_Baggage_29_05_2010/

 

 

Mediterranean Tourism Show of Tunis

The 16th Mediterranean & International Tourism Fair begins on Thursday the 20th of May 2010. in Tunis. According to he Libyan Tourism Board, several Libyan companies and tourist agencies will take part in the Mediterranean Tourism Show of Tunis in the Tunisian capital from 20-22 May 2010, in which Libyan tour operators will highlight the country's potential in the field of tourism through paintings and photograph of  the unique archaeological sites and the wonders of Libya's ancient Saharan civilisations. Read more . . .

 

 

 

Ancient Relics Taken By British Soldiers Have Been Returned To Libya:

2500 year old items taken by two British soldiers in the 1950s were returned to Libya by the soldiers' families. Among the items were a Roman terracotta lamp, representing the god of wine, and a bronze prow of a Greek ship which was found by the two British soldiers during a diving excursion off the coast of Benghazi in Eastern Libya. However, Libya is still working to reclaim many of its artefacts from other countries including the US and Turkey.

Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/10175793.stm

Tunisian Tourist Days

Also related is Libya's seventh celebration of Tunisian Tourism: the Tunisian Tourist Days, opened on Saturday the 15th of May in Benghazi, is a 3-day event which aims to promote cooperation between Libya and Tunisia in the filed of tourism. It has been reported that Tunisia has received more than one million Libyan tourists last year, which is an incredible number considering the small population of Libya.

 

Libya & Greece Seek Closer Cooperation In Tourism:

Athens: the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou met with his Libyan counterpart Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmudi on Friday to seek new ways to boost bilateral ties between the two countries, and to sign development agreements relating to renewable energy sources and tourism.  Read more . . .

 

International Tourism

 

United Nations

United Nations World Tourism Organisation:

http://www.unwto.org/

United Nations' World Tourism Organization (UNWTO/OMT) is the leading international organization in the field of tourism, established to provide information about tourism and to serve as a ‎global forum for tourism policy issues. It also plays an important role in promoting the development of responsible tourism, paying particular attention to the ‎interests of developing countries. Its membership includes 161 countries and territories and more than 390 Affiliate ‎Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations ‎and local tourism authorities.‎

 

 

UNWTO Calendar or International Tourism Events:

The calendar lists all the tourism and trade events that are taking place at UNWTO, in its 153 member states. Affiliate members and external organisations are encouraged to submit their trade fairs and tourism events at: http://www.unwto.org/calendar/index.php?t=99

 

 

The Global Code of Ethics For Tourism:

United Nations' Global Code of Ethics For Tourism was adopted by resolution A/RES/406(XIII) at the thirteenth WTO General Assembly (Santiago, Chile, 27 September - 1 October 1999.

 

 

 

 

 

SOS.travel

www.sos.travel
Launched in 2008

SOS.travel is an online one-stop-shop for accessing the latest critical information in anticipation of or in response to crises impacting tourism. The system aims to assist in rapid recovery from crisis situations. SOS.travel also serves as a valuable resource for travellers by providing in one place the tools and information they need in order to make informed decisions about their own safety and security, and to obtain assistance in case of an emergency.

 

 

 

 

Africa

Africa Travel Association (ATA)

(212)447-1357
info(at)africatravelassociation(dot)org
www.africatravelassociation.org/

Africa Travel Association or ATA was established in 1975 to promote travel and tourism in Africa. As a global association, the ATA is registered as a 501(c)6 non-profit trade association in America. The association is run by an International Board of Directors, working closely with government and board representatives worldwide.

 

(APTA):

Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa
www.apta.biz/

APTA is a nonprofit organisation of travel professionals, aiming to promote tourism to Africa and its Islands, through the education of its members.