International Mountain Day

News Release

TLB Destinations joins UN in International Mountain Day 2008 Focus – Food Security in Mountains

Lebanon; November 2008: CYCLMEN, a division of Lebanese tour operator TLB Destinations is organizing a mountain trek in the Akkar region of Lebanon on the first weekend in December 2008, to celebrate ‘International Mountain Day’.

The UN General Assembly designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as 'International Mountain Day', as an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world’s mountains.

In 2008, the theme focuses on ‘Food Security in Mountains’ and to commemorate this day CYCLAMENis encouraging everyone in Lebanon to go out, enjoy the mountains, and get to know a bit more about the rural communities. This event initiated in Lebanon by TLB Destinations, a Lebanese tour operator dedicated to responsible tourism and Middle East member of TOI (Tour Operators Initiative for Sustainable Development), aims at helping the rural communities to enjoy the benefits of tourism, of which they should be a key part. Our aim is to raise awareness on issues related to tourism such as environment, culture, heritage and support to local communities.

For the 6th consecutive year we will organize an event in Lebanon as an act of awareness to Lebanon’s mountains, and a tangible tool to boost Lebanon’s image as an eco tourism destination abroad. Join the efforts between professionals in the tourism sector to reinforce the position of Lebanon on the tourism map, to raise awareness on the importance of mountains to the Lebanese people, and to support local communities as guardians of the national heritage.

We need partners to support us in our commitment to sustainable development through tourism activities that preserve nature and respect local heritage. Your support can let this event become a reality and stimulate other initiatives within Lebanon’s sustainable development. “Lebanon is famous for its unequivocal beauty and unique countryside and mountains. This is an opportunity for us to create awareness on a local level and global level the important implications that food price increases are having on humankind. We wish to bring awareness this situation can have on those of us who actively participate in outdoor pursuits but to also bring awareness in terms of our heritage, our tourism industry and the preservation of what makes our country so unique and beautiful. We believe that hiking in rural regions offers solutions to the need for sustainable tourism,” says Nassim Yaccoub, program manager, CYCLAMEN.

Cyclamen is a division of Lebanese tour operator TLB Destinations and member of CIFA (Centre pour l'Insertion par la Formation et l'Activité ) a non-profit organization which focuses on the linkages between responsible tourism and sustainable development. To find out how you can participate in International Mountain Day contact us at contact@cifa-me.org.