Libya is considering participating in Dubai's Arabian Travel Market to be held in May, reported the Emirati Gulf News paper, saying that Libya will use the occasion to seek Arab investment in its tourism projects.
A Libyan top official told the paper that the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing Department and the Libyan Tourism Authority are expected to discuss cooperation in tourism.
Foreign partners are ready to participate, according to the paper.
It said that Italy will be the first to invest under Libya's new $2 billion five-year tourism plan by building a mega tourism complex at Villa Sbeleen, 90 kilometers east of Tripoli. Libya has formed a central committee to examine the launch of festivals in archaeological locations echoing Jordan's Jerash and Tunisia's Carthage.
"A contract was signed last month with an Italian company to set up a mega tourism project on 100 hectares. The first phase will involve $50 million," said Fathi Moustafa Misrati, Libyan Tourism and Archaeology Minister. "The (inaugural) Emirates Tripoli-Dubai flight on March 25 is expected to give tourism cooperation between the two countries a boost," he added.
"Libya is not ready now for the promotion of tourism for GCC families because this needs particular services. They are currently unavailable in Libya, but they are in the pipeline," he said – Albawaba.com
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