Under the patronage of Prime Minister Mr. Tamam Salam, the Ministry of Tourism launched the Rural Tourism Strategy for Lebanon at le Grand Serail, Beirut this Wednesday 11th of February 2015. The event was attended by officials, syndicates, unions of municipalities, municipalities and rural tourism stakeholders.

The Food Heritage Foundation had the pleasure to participate in this national event and to introduce its food tourism project "Darb el Karam" supported by USAID in the framework of LIVCD - program, and implemented in collaboration with The environment and Sustainable Development Unit ESDU of the American University of Beirut, and The Shouf Biosphere Reserve.

This is the first project of its kind in Lebanon and the region. It aims to create a touristic destination focused on food tourism and to increase and diversify the income of small farmers, food producers, local guides, and bed and breakfast operations integrated to the food trail through the development of touristic packages centered on agricultural, pastoral and food processing activities as well as traditional cuisine.