E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSAs temperatures rise in Libya hundreds of people are making their way to the coast and enjoying beaches that were previously exclusively for members of the former regime. Msnbc.com's Dara Brown reports.
Libya has all it takes to become a vacation paradise: 1,300 miles of palm-fringed coastline, five world-class cultural heritage sites and an attractive historic quarter in Tripoli featuring fine colonial buildings.
What is doesn’t have, though, is tourists.
But following the overthrow of dictator Moammar Gadhafi, there are plenty of reasons for hotels and tour operators to be optimistic.
Alexandre Meneghini / AP, file
One of the (mostly empty) beaches in Tripoli is seen in this file photo.
Soaked in sun, the country's position at the meeting point of the desert landscape of the Sahara and the Mediterranean makes it ideal for trekking and windsurfing.
Libya's extraordinary history and ancient archaeological riches -- it boasts five United Nations world cultural heritage sites, including the remains of the Roman Empire outpost Leptis Magna and the Greek Hellenic city of Cyrene -- are its primary attractions.
It was off-limits for decades as a pariah state thanks to Gadhafi’s involvement in global terrorism, but a thaw in relations with Western countries saw a 14 per cent rise in visitor numbers between 2006 and 2010 and a 30 per cent jump in hotel revenue over the same period from $49 million to $65 million, according to analysts Euromonitor.
'Big expectations'
That tourism renaissance was all but destroyed by the Arab Spring uprising and subsequent civil war, but there are hopes it could resume and emulate the success of other recovering war zones: the New York Times three years ago named Beirut as its number one global destination.
In Tripoli, the Rixos Al Nasr hotel -- where journalists were trapped during last August’s fierce fighting –- is open and full of guests, and its owners say they have “big expectations” in the coming months.
One small group is this week exploring the country on a trip organized by Political Tours, a specialist firm run by former New York Times Balkans correspondent Nicholas Wood, while managers at Simoon Travel, a British operator that organizes tours of the Middle East and North Africa, are visiting later this month with a view to restarting its Libya itineraries.
“We are optimistic because reports suggest most of the monuments and ancient sites have been left undamaged by the NATO bombing,” Simoon’s managing director Amelia Stewart told msnbc.com. “It is such a fascinating and diverse country and we would like to offer trips once it is safe enough to do so.”
Youssef Boudlal / Reuters, file
A view of Leptis Magna, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Mediterranean coast, some 75 miles east of Tripoli.
Access to the country is slowly improving following the end of NATO airstrikes that drove out Gadhafi’s regime: United Airlines partner British Midland International resumes direct flights to Tripoli from London Heathrow later this month, while British Airways will return to the city from May 1.
Libya begins battle to seize $20 billion in Gadhafi assets
Business travelers still account for the majority of visitors as the oil industry returns, but huge problems remain. The ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) is struggling to impose its authority on a country awash with weapons and militias have stepped into the vacuum, carving the country into local fiefdoms.
“Each area has its own guys who consider themselves in charge, which creates a huge security problem,” Wood said. “That lack of co-ordination, added to bureaucracy, makes Libya a very difficult place to visit for the time being.”
Many Western hotel chains that opened in anticipation of a tourism boom remain closed for the time being. The Marriott in Tripoli is not accepting reservations, while a spokeswoman for New York-based Starwood Hotels said it did not yet have a reopening date for its Four Points by Sheraton in the city.
Goran Tomasevic / REUTERS
An uprising in Libya ousts dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Mustafa Özbinici, spokesman for the Turkish owners of the Rixos Al Nasr, said: “Libya is a intact country tourism-wise, with 2,200 kilometers [1,367 miles] of sea shore, so we believe that it will be a good development in long term. We have big expectations with Libya.
A year on, Libyans enjoy freedoms but anxieties abound
“However, there are some difficulties still remaining, especially the process of reorganization. As a company, we are trying to support people of Libya during this hard time including the injured people and their families.”
The threat of sporadic violence has also pushed up the cost of travel insurance, putting tours firmly into the "niche" market: Simoon’s cheapest package starts at about $2,000. “We will have security staff with us,”Wood added.
Tourism ministers from across the Middle East will meet on April 30 for a special summit between the Arabian Travel Market and the World Tourism Organization to drive forward tourism in the wake of the Arab Spring.
“Prior to the onset of violence, the government had finally developed a Tourism Master Plan for 2009-2013, with some vision expressed about the much longer-term, through to 2025,” Nadejda Popova, tourism analyst with Euromonitor, told msnbc.com.
Christian war graves desecrated in Libya
“Investment started pouring into the country’s travel and tourism industry, with more than six 5-star hotels planned in Tripoli as well as ambitious development plans for airports, ports, roads and rail projects linking Libya to its neighbors. However, the future is now uncertain and Libya’s travel and tourism industry is expected to suffer losses for at least another two years. There is a great deal of reconstruction needed, and efforts will be geared towards getting the country back on its feet before engaging in more tourism developments.”
Without a government strategy for the industry, growth is likely to be slow. Tourism and leisure has never accounted for than one per cent of consumer spending in Libya, compared to the global average of 16 per cent, according to Popova.
But one thing seems certain: Libya is unlikely to follow north African neighbors such as Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco into mass tourism. “I doubt it will ever have resorts like Sharm el-Sheikh,” said Stewart. “Libya has always been careful to ensure it doesn’t end up with an industry catering for those wanting sun and cheap booze.”
'There will be no alcohol'
Her view was echoed by the Giuma Bukleb, media attaché to the Libyan Embassy in London. He told msnbc.com: “We will never be like other countries with lots of big resort hotels, and there will be no alcohol. We want to encourage people to see our heritage sites.”
The commander of Libya's rebel force says Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is sheltering weapons at Leptis Magna, a major Roman-era ruins on the civil war-ravaged nation. NBC's Stephanie Gosk reports.
He added: “We are very keen to welcome tourists but maybe the time is not right just now. We have to get the country back on its feet first.”
Sarkozy denies Gadhafi gave his campaign $65 million
There are other practical hurdles: visitors must still apply in advance for a visa, rather than making arrangements on arrival as is the case in Egypt. And most countries, including the United States, require travelers to inform their local embassy in Libya about their trip.
“Libya has such incredible potential but there is a long way to go,” Wood said.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- 22 kids die as bus crashes near Swiss ski area
- Source: Video shows US soldier in shawl after massacre
- Foreign exchange students sexually abused
- China's super rich snapping up European vineyards
- Friend of UK PM arrested in phone-hacking investigation
- China's 'Interviews Before Execution' axed (for now)
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
Leave a Comment:
Libya has a very small population, tremendous natural resources (e.g., oil, natural gas, gypsum, limestone), and an ideal Mediterranean climate for tourism.
It could easily become one of the wealthiest countries (per GDP per capita) on earth. It could even rival Qatar or Liechtenstein!
But is it going to happen?
Or are Libyans going to turn the place into Somalia with all the tribal militias?
Stay tuned, folks, stay tuned...
So long as the Islamists continue to exert control, the development of Libya as a tourist destination is not going to happen. First off, the fact that they are already saying there will be no alcohol puts a major damper on the tourist trade. Not many people are going to go to a beach resort if they can not even get a drink while kicking back on the beach or by the hotel pool. They may eventually decide to relax this rule and allow alcohol within the grounds of the resorts to help build up the tourist trade, however this is not likely to happen as long as the Islamists have any say. There are also still major shortages of goods in the country, including food. There has also been major damage to their power generation and distribution system, making operating a resort difficult. It is going to take years to get their infrastructure repaired from the war in order to support the tourist industry.
Another major problem is that it is still going to be years before they have a stable enough government for people to feel safe traveling there, if it ever happens. Traveling around the country is still very dangerous and you are likely to run into militia run checkpoints on the roads with armed men looking to collect "tolls" to allow you to pass. With their economy in a shambles, extortion is still a major source of income for some of these militia types and the National Transitional Council is in no position to put a stop to it. There is so much in-fighting among the different tribal militias that it it is going to be a long time before the country is anything even approaching safe for people to travel. Should the Islamists continue to gain in power, it is likely that Libya will devolve into an Islamic Republic, in which case travel by westerners to the country would be ill advised unless they were traveling with an armed escort.
Welcome to Libya. Take a camel ride. Visit our ruins and spend an afternoon digging for unexploded ordnance. Be sure to bring plenty of warm clothing for the women-folk.
This a joke right.....you want my tourist dollars, but you hate anyone who is not a Muslim..
"Libya has a very small population, tremendous natural resources (e.g., oil, natural gas, gypsum, limestone), and an ideal Mediterranean climate for tourism."
What you've pointed out is very true, but these same qualities are far more likely to make it a target for capitalist colonization/rape rather than affording it's citizens a better life. If you disagree, please just check your history first...
Yes Come To "Libya" "The Vacation Destination That Keeps Killing Even After Your Back Home"
Yes, an Islamist vacation for all is what's in order for all Infidels. Wake up to either a stoning, caning or hanging, your choice the party never stops! For lunch we get to enjoy fanatics praying and bowing, praying and bowing and then some praying and bowing, wow! Then for dinner we are really excited to present starving & dying children in the streets and for dessert this is really exciting, two men fight to the death with machete's whilst a women is being beaten to death for showing her wrists! Before bed you can sharpen your skills with our AK-47 Kill An Infidel training Course! The kids will Love it!
Oh and don't forget the Christian Dragged Through the Streets Tour! Mohammad & Mohammad will make Special Price for you!!
The kids will Love it!
They must be evangelicals,probably Santorums family
And people, who want to kill you...no thanks. After that, you can even go hike along the Iranian border.
I think I'll stick with the Caribbean.
The "Spring" countries were inspired to uprise and implement the brotherhood by listening to a speech in 2009. It is a shame these countries, once our allies, are now hostile and unfriendly, erasing centuries of human/women's rights advancements
This almost sounds as good as hiking on the Iranian border! Sign me up!
Doh, you beat me to it Kevin....and nice post Flash hehe
It is hard for women to swim in Burkas.
Vacation in libya? Not only no but hell no!
If you go, may as well wear a sign that says, "kidnap me".
You won't get much 'sun' if you have to wear a Burkha.
lol
This is known as jumping the gun without knowing much!
With followers of Islamic cult of different brands and tribes, there will not be much rest even for killings!
Only Gadhafis, Saddams, Assads can bring some stability in a Muslim nation. Or else it is free for all like the rest!
If I am going to get murdered in a foreign land, while on vacation, I will go to Mexico. At least, they like us.
Does anyone else think the choice of photo for this article is ironic? "Come to Libya!! The creepy deserted beaches are all yours except for a couple of houswives covered head to toe in black like the lady in that horror movie, and an alcoholic slumped over in a chair - it's truly paradise here!!" lol
David Wellman - you say these same qualities are far more at arget for capitalist colonization/rape rather than affording it's citizens a better life.
What's wrong with capitalism it’s given you everything you have. You say check history – good point maybe you should do so and you would find out that socialist states do not survive very long without a dictator in some form. Then Dictators will change the form of government slowly to line the Dictators pockets and eventually denying the people anything. Just look at Europe taxes are unbelievably high yet it’s falling apart because it cannot support the government pay out to the people. Check out China, a communistic socialist government who, after reacquiring Hong Kong found that capitalism is a better way and far more profitable than what they were doing. You cannot give it away if you don’t have it and the only way you can get it legally is through capitalism.
Come to Libya for "fun in the sun and sand!" experience our heritage and the raw adventure of avoiding kidnap and murder! fun for the whole family!
I'm more a fan of vacationing on top of the sand and under the sun, not under the sand and sun myself.
New Slogan, "Come to Libya- you don't know what you'll get". (Caveat- No drinking, no PDAs, no covorting with the locals, no swimwear other than the 2012 weekend burkah line, etc.)
I'll pass.
if people, especially americans, are stupid enough to vacation in those areas, they deserve what will happen to them.
Well Said Wendy Breeze!!!!
The potential is there - Libya has the most classical Greek and Roman ruins outside of Italy and Greece themselves. And perhaps even more, if archeologists are given free rein to dig.
Not to mention the WWII battlefields - would love to trace the 8th Army's advances and retreats all over the place.
People though are religiously conservative to a fare-thee well, and are fiercely tribal as well, so freedom of movement (and security) might be problematic for the foreseeable future.
Christian heads are rolling......
You want me to to the beach.....
No Thank You
Hello folks, Libya has been recently kicking out all the International operatives in their country. They recently voted against receiving the 1.5 billion in aid from America. They recently announced that Israel is the problem in the Middle East.
"Tourism hot spot" I don't think so, not in our life times. In our arrogance we think we can go into any country, take it over and privatize it for the corporate banksters. For all that think Libya is the next tourism hot spot, why don't you go over and vacation there wearing an American flag shirt or hat or even a flag lapel pin. Do I have any takers? I didn't think so?
Only the rich and stupid Americans will be the fools to buy into this nonsense. Go on vacation there, and come home in a box a week later.
I'll buy Cheney, Bush, Bachmann, Santorum, Gingrich and Romney tickets to go on vacation there.
It's OK . . the lady pictured in the hajib doesn't convince me that she is having much fun anyway, and they are likely difficult to pack.
Hello Wendy Breeze, you do know that the biggest recipient of social welfare in the history of the world is our "Free Market, Capitalist" banks and financial institutions, right? Remember the bailouts (plural), they have been in the tens of Trillions (that's trillions with a T). We are the modern day Robin Hood, except we rob from the poor and rich (of other countries) to give to the rich.
Anyone from the West who travels to the Middle East for vacation is out of their minds. Just read the news and that's only what has been reported. Think about what we don't hear about. No way.
The vacation video of you be being beheaded and broadcast on Al-jizeerah will be a wondeful momento for your grandchildren.... or maybe your relatives will be lucky enough to pay a huge ransom for your release after you have been beaten and raped for a few months.
Nothing says relaxation like being dead.
Probably not a good place for Americans but Europeans will go. They vacation in Egypt especially on the Red Sea. Libyan government even if it becomes strict with it's people will look like Cuba when it comes to tourism. Cuba was all hard core communist except it wanted tourist dollars and the resorts were capitalist havens. US citizens could not go but tons of Canadians and Europeans did.
"Yes Come To 'Libya', 'The Vacation Destination That Keeps Killing Even After Your Back Home'!"
Act now and we'll throw in a free burka and tickets to a 2 for 1 stoning seating,but you, must act now!
Not real likely to become a tourist attraction when they are stoning kids to death in the streets for wearing western clothes.
completely agree with I-believe ...I think I can find much better tourist spots to spend my money at...and it ain't gonna be an Islamic ruled country that's for sure.
Has my memory failed me or had libya the top or one the top standards of living, in africa, before the arab spring?
While I wish Libya all the best, I think I'll stick to Italy and Greece if I want eye-fulls of ancient sites until they can get it together.
Judging from the progress they have made since quadifi's murder, they are not going to make it until another someone like him, takes over. Then it will probably take him as long as it did quadifi to bring them into the current century, which ever century that might be?
What we will see until then is tribal squabbling, king of the mountain and graft. The graft has commenced.
Am I the only one that sees it a little conceited to talk about Libya as a tourist destination only five months after dropping bombs on it for eight? How about I beat you into paralysis and tell you my plans to move in with your soon-to-be ex-wife; you like that?
Yes I say. It is an absolute step in the right direction. Lepcis Magna has enourmous possibilities. There is also an ancient Greek City called Cyrene that has the same potential. I hope to go one day. Libya has an amazing history.
Yeah, it'll be a while before I feel comfortable booking that flight.
i would never go there. you never know what would happen in a click second.
Yeah, and the economy has turned around, unemployment has dropped (if you don't count the ones who have been dropped off the list), we're producing more oil than Bush did, the "Volt" is a great car, our Mexican border is safer than it's ever been, and obama needs another 4 years because he isn't done destroying us yet. Yeah, I believe Libya is a "hot spot", just not the kind you want me to believe. Let mr. obama and his family and all of congress go vacation there for about a month or maybe 2 or 3. Besides who else can afford a vacation. After paying for theirs there is no money left for us.
I guess my comment will get deleted too. I guess it's against the rules to criticize MSNBC
You are right.
It is better to keep away from Muslim nations and non-Muslim nations where Muslims form more than 30 percent.
Even in non-Muslim nations, if Muslims form more than 30 percent in a place, that place is another raping, killing, hating and looting place. Any time, anything may happen!
About Libya, at least wait for a decade.
Most probably, it will be another Islamic killing fields.
Jonathan-1982062, I am not disagreeing with you comment, besides why would I want to spend money in a region that once burned our flag & while screaming death the US However, your second lines also describes any big city in the US and our under-protected boarder, where invaders are allowed through daily with the blessing of our president.
Now what in my statement qualified it for deletion? Was it the subtle reference to teabagging which you apparently have no problem with coming form your resident Obama cheer leaders?
MSNDC=HACK JOURNALISM
Come on MSDNC, "now that Obama has liberated Libya its a beautiful oasis."
I see what you are doing here. Nice work MSDNC, hey you have something on your chin.....
Don't forget about Spring Break in syria!!!!
Oh right, it's too close to election for Obama to throw U.S. taxpayer(voter) money at that one... but if he did you can bet MSNBC would ignore any further atrocities and portray it as a civilized place.
I hope some liberals read this and actually go to Libya, then when they disappear I hope their more intellegint relatives sue MSNBC for publishing this garbage.
It is a beautiful country but unfortunately the barbaric mentality of the muslim culture throughout the middle east does not make for a safe place to take your family. Maybe in another thousand years.
What exactly is beautiful about it? I have yet to find a single picture of anywhere in Libya that doesn't look like an abandoned construction zone, and their beaches look like mudholes.
You got it 100 percent right. People make or mar a place.
Here the followers of Islamic cult are the worst history has ever seen.
Any place with muslims is dangerous, and that includes the US, and unfortunately now nearly all of Europe. The entire muslim culture is filled with hate and violence and even those who claim to be loving and moderate do nothing to stop the violence which means they are equally guilty.
Jack: You are 200 percent right.
If you permit a single Muslim (moderate, good, secular, liberal, hates Islam, progressive), then see the loads of Muslims following. Their star attraction: prosperous and peaceful places.
Minneapolis and Somalians is one example!
Then that place is slowly marching towards another hell on earth.
With their religious beliefs about modesty and covering up maybe this is the place to go, no 400lb. queens running around in a two piece or some hairy ape man in a speado that has to show his i.d. every time he leaves the zoo standing at the shore like Tarzan I'm all for it.
Just the place where Americans want to go ( If you have a death wish). Country virtually run by Radical Islam..
Raymond...well stated! What kind of an American would want to go to a country ruled by islmists? These hate filled killers wish death to Americans and non believers every day! I'd never give one penny of my tourist dollars to any muslim country! ( And I feel the same about any muslim business here in the USA) To all these muslims I'd repeat this adage..."You reap what you sow".
.
Yeah right. Would I choose a Muslim toilet or a Caribbean white sand beach. Let me think about this a minute. DUH!!!
All right, does this mean TSA will allow us to carry assault rifles on the plane when we travel over there? Unless I can pack protection, why the h*ll would I risk my family in this allah forsaken part of the world?
When visiting sunny Libyan beaches, better bring the essentials: Swim trunks... sunscreen... AK-47.
If you like hot sand, camels and homemade bombs, then Libya is your place...
I'm pretty sure the militias still have all their U.N. supplied bombs and weapons - homemade is for Al -Queda who haven't received their latest shipment from Iran.
Just like Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Iran; extremism has made many historic sites mostly inaccessible to the general population that can afford to go on vacations overseas. These countries use to be accessible to tourists and history scholars until violence broke out. Lebanon is a beautiful country, just ask the gunman hiding in the bushes.
Would Jews and Christians be allowed ? We all know how tolerant and peaceful Mislooms are.
the middle east will never be a tourism hot spot
not for americans and/or women
weeeeee all the women are wearing burka bikinis
funfun
No alcohol ? Go to hell fundamentalist monkey. If you think tourists should follow sharia law then you are going to behead them anyway.
Thanks, but I will stick to the US beaches. Maybe a little more crowded, but less unexploded ordnance.
Old Sarge, I'll bet it would feel real good to shed all of that garb and gear and put on a set of swim trunks and lay on a beach in the good ole U. S. of A. :)
It would make a great place to vacation. But they have a long way to go. Here's hoping for their success.
Maybe a couple more millenia, ya think?
Don't worry Grandma, no one, not even in Libya wants to see you in your swimsuit on a beach. :)
You want to know why we'll stay close to home this vacation season? Not there...not there, a little further down.....yeah, yeah...THERE, the third picture. Has anyone checked out the Afghanistan Division of Tourism yet?
Isn't the high-rise in the main picture missing a bunch of windows?
Is that so the snipers can pick off any woman who shows an ankle?
How this article made it to the top I will never know, let alone people consider it a vacation spot.
I am just as perplexed why they are encouraging anyone to vacation there...especially Christians. There is not one person I know that would set foot anywhere in the "Spring" countries. The mob protests to install the "brotherhood" has only shed negative light on anyone who encouraged this takeover.
It's supposed to be subtle re-election propaganda.
If you only have 10 functioning brain cells(or are a liberal) the hope is that by November you will be thinking that Obama saved the world and gave everyone a new vacation destination... all without gongressional approval.
For anyone who has ever wanted to be held for ransom, this is the spot for you.
Perfect place to vacation....for islamist extremists, sure as hell not for the typical American. If want to be kidnapped then go for it.
No, thank you. I'd take my chances in Mexico first. At least I can be a free woman there and oil rich Libya certainly doesn't need my money to boost it's economy!
I don't think the media or our political leaders realize that most of us have done our homework and now know what Muslims are and what their beliefs are. I see this on most news sites. If they actually think that we think that only a small group of Muslims are causing the problems then they haven't got a grip on reality. Many of us have read the Koran and know what hate and bigotry is in it. We also know what happens as the Muslim population increases and they then demand that we non believers follow their rules and submit to there hatred and bigotry.
NOTE TO MEDIA: We know !
Love it!!! Yes, MEDIA, we know better. We know who you're working for.
"the New York Times three years ago named Beirut as its number one global destination".
Think about that for a moment...
Would you trust ANY opinion from the NYT?
How incongruous is the picture of the burka covered woman on the beach?? She must be hotter than hell (and I don't mean looks-wise - cuz how would you know?!) and can't even cool off in the water. Even if it WAS a safe place, and I was a teatotaler, as a woman, I would probably not be allowed to wear a bathing suit!
How about North Carolina? South Carolina? Georgia? Florida" Alabama? Mississippi? Louisiana? How about spending our travel dollars HERE - in AMERICA? Funny how the wealthy conservatives point to the economy - and then do everything they can to undermine it. TRAVEL AMERICA FIRST!!!
What are you talking about? Wealthy conservatives? It is liberals that keep going to these places and getting arrested and then have to get bailed out with our taxes dollars. Your comment was as intellagent as this article.
What are you talking about? Wealthy conservatives? It is liberals that keep going to these places and getting arrested and then have to get bailed out with our taxes dollars. Your comment was as intelligent as this article.
David, the typical Commy thinking, you are restricted to your own country to travel. Hello, The Berlin Wall fell ... get the concept. We are free to travel where we choose if using our OWN resources> Yeah, I know this does not apply to Michelle Obama, using 10 of millions of taxpayer's dollars to travel around the world. The last thing I want is some Big Gov David type telling me where I can travel to if using my own hard earned resources.