Public Sector

Ministry of Tourism

The Lebanon Tourism Service was originally created in the 1930s, within the Ministry of National Economy. Its main role was monitoring and supervision of the industry.

The General Directorate of Antiquities (Direction Générale des Antiquités), which was once part of the Ministry of Education and Fine Arts, was attached to the Ministry of Tourism when it was established in 1966. In 1992, it was re-annexed to the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education. However, a department charged with developing tourism at archaeological and historical sites was also created within the Ministry of Tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism, as the official tourism body for Lebanon, is entrusted with the following tasks:

– Promoting tourism;
– Regulating, coordinating, and monitoring tourism professions;
– Regulating, coordinating, and monitoring private companies and associations working in the tourism sector;
– Promoting and executing tourism investment projects; facilitating and simplifying rules and requirements related to these projects;
and applying laws and regulations related to tourism and tourism enterprises;
– Developing archaeological and historical sites and museums for tourism purposes.