The “Routes of the Olive Tree” at the Euro-Mediterranean Intercultural Dialogue Forum to celebrate Lebanon’s entry into the Enlarged Partial Agreement for the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes
Under the Patronage of His Excellency, President of the Republic General Michel Aoun, in the Presence of His Excellency Minister of Tourism Eng. Walid Nassar, the Forum is organized by the American University of Lebanon and the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism.
For 4 days, from 20 to 23 April, the ‘Routes of the Olive Tree’ will have the opportunity to collaborate with the Lebanese Ministries of Culture and Agriculture, the European Institute of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe: La Rotta dei Fenici, Route Iter Vitis and Routes of El legado Andalusí’. The “Routes of the Olive Tree” will be represented by Dr. Marinella Katsilieri, expert in the History of Cultures, Secretary General of the Board of Directors and responsible for the Planning & Development of the “Routes of the Olive Tree” Foundation.
Two key topics on the agenda are: strengthening the intercultural dialogue between Lebanon and Euro-Mediterranean cities and promoting cultural tourism in Lebanon.
At the heart of this rich programme, which includes the inauguration of the Lebanese Academy for Intercultural Dialogue and the Museum of the Phoenician Route, will be the celebration of the recognition of the village of Bkassine as one of the best tourist villages by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
It should be noted that the World Tourism Organization created this honorary title in December 2021 to highlight rural communities that focus on sustainable development and responsible tourism, values that the “Routes of the Olive Tree” strongly support.