International expertise gathered for sustainable tourism in Libya

Tourism in North Africa is expected to grow at an unprecedented pace in the next decade. According to the scenario developed by the UN Environment Programme’s Mediterranean Action Plan, by 2025 the number of international and national tourists visiting the South and East Mediterranean region will reach respectively 48 and 49 million per year. This constitutes about a quarter of international tourists and almost half of all national tourists to the Mediterranean as whole. Such rapid development may have unforeseen and negative consequences on biodiversity and the environment of this region.

To foster a sustainable form of tourism, the first workshop on Sustainable Tourism in Libya has taken place in Al-Bayda from 28-29 November 2006. The workshop provided a platform for discussions between the Libyan tourism and nature protection sectors with the ultimate objective of developing national and local policies for sustainable development of tourism.

It was organised by the Environment General Authority of Libya (EGA), the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, the IUCN Business and Biodiversity Programme, the WWF Mediterranean Programme Office (WWF MedPO) and the Regional Activity Centre for Cleaner Productions of UNEP MAP (RAC-CP). The Italian Ministry of Environment co-funded the workshop.

Some 60 international and national participants representing government agencies, NGOs, scientists, business, international organisations and research institutions active in conservation, tourism and development shared good practice initiatives from many countries, identifying the necessary steps for implementing an effective sustainable tourism strategy and action plan . Practical measures for protecting the rich biodiversity of Libya , including the protection of areas of special importance were also discussed.

Tourism management in coastal and marine protected areas was a main focus of the workshop, as these areas are expected to experience the highest level of structural development. With the Libyan landscape featuring a high diversity from desert environments to coastlines, it could be a major asset for a tourism development that would benefit local communities and conservation aims, as many experts highlighted. Case studies from Egypt , Greece , Jordan , Malta and Turkey in addition to experiences from Libya were presented, together with current tools and expertise from international organisations such as UNESCO, UNDP and UNEP.

The workshop generated specific recommendations addressing inter-agency and inter-sectoral cooperation, institutional capacity building, planning and implementation processes, and public awareness needs.

For more info contact please contact:

Workshop conclusions, recommendations, presentations, and resource materials will shortly be available on the following website: www.uicnmed.org.

Dr. Ameer Abdulla Lead, Marine Specialist, IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation,
e-mail: ameer.abdullaiucn.org

Giulia Carbone, IUCN Business and Biodiversity Programme , email: giulia.carboneiucn.org

Dr. Marina Gomei MPA Program Assistant, IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation,
e-mail: marina.gomeiiucn.org

Links:
IUCN Business and Biodiversity Programme
www.iucn.org/themes/business/

Environment General Authority of Libya (EGA):
www.environment.org.ly/index_eng.htm

WWF Mediterranean Programme Office (WWF MedPO): www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/mediterranean/