In order to get families an extra source of revenue, AUT rounded 5 mayors from the district of Jbeil, one mayor of a Keserwan city and representatives of North Akkar municipalities together with senior officials of the Jbeil Destination Management Organization to discuss the possibility to launch an initiative that would enable inhabitants to rent one room of their home to tourists, domestic or international.
The participants were hosted at Ehmej municipal house on July 14
by mayor Nazih Abi Semaan and each mayor spoke of what he/she can do to facilitate such an initiative and what experience they can share.
The difference with the Airbnb concept is that tourists can lodge in one room of a house or apartment occupied by its owners (and not left vacant) at a reasonable price.
Discussions evolved around the experience that can be offered to tourists that would choose this option (activities, sites to visit, cultural and environmental attractions…) while the initiator of National TourismInitiative Hany Bahna provided details on existing models and required standards that would be communicated to interested inhabitants when the initiative is launched.
The AUT team was led by VP Marcel Hinain and Assistant VP Pierre Khoury with tourism expert Claude Marji.
The cities represented in the roundtable included Ehmej, Ghalboun, Berbara, Blat, Okaibeh, Laklouk, Kobeyat and the DMO was represented by its president Rafael Sfeir and VP Imad Farhat.
A follow up meeting will be held in August to set an agenda for a conference and workshop that would allow 50 rooms to be prepared as Proof of Concept
