Samar Kanafani
Daily Star staff
 
The country’s recently-revived hostelling union is trying to resuscitate Lebanon on the world map of youth tourism, challenging economic difficulties and lack of traveler infrastructure here.
Although hostels are few, hotels expensive and transportation generally unreliable, the Lebanese Youth Hostels Federation (LYHF) wants members of the tourist industry, municipalities and civil society to contribute ideas for once again making Lebanon a haven for young travelers.
“There are many difficulties for young travelers who come here alone, but if they come in organized groups, youth tourism here can be good,” said Anis Abdel-Malak, president of the LYHF, which held its first Conference on Youth Tourism in Lebanon at the Gefinor Rotana Hotel on Tuesday.
The federation expects to renew its membership in July of the International Youth Hostels Federation (IYHF), which it initially joined in 1966 but from which it temporarily withdrew in 1978 due to the civil war.
Membership in the IYHF, which links 4,200 hotels in over 60 countries, is expected to plug Lebanon back into a worldwide tourist network, introduce young excursionists to the country’s tourist attractions and make group travel possible.
“Everyone was more than just politely interested when, since the end of the 1990s, new signs of hostelling activity sprang up in Lebanon,” said IYHF president Harish Saxena.
Lebanon’s return to the IYHF will be discussed at the federation’s biannual conference in Budapest in July.
The Arab Youth Hostels Associations Forum, which the LYHF joined in 1975 and which links hostels in 18 Arab nations, will hold its 19th biannual conference in Beirut next April.
Over the past two years, nongovernmental organizations have set up seven hostels, in Sidon, Zahle, Zifta (Nabatieh), Ramlieh (Aley), Meaad (Jbeil), Ras al-Metn (Baabda), and Mrouj (Metn), where lodging and breakfast cost $10 to $15 per day, while a bed and three meals costs $25 to $30.
The LYHF’s role is to advertise these hostels in foreign and local tourist outlets as well as ensure that facilities meet internationally-accepted standards of hospitality, security, privacy and hygiene. “We haven’t yet classified our member hostels according to international standards,” said LYHF executive assistant Rita Baroud, who said the hostels would “soon” be graded.
French and German hostel federations have offered a helping hand, contributing 15,000 euros to the LYHF, while Kuwait and Saudi Arabia each donated $60,000 for the building of a hostel in Beirut, where cheap lodging is in high demand.
Hotel Mashreq in Hamra is temporarily serving as the federation’s “partner” in Beirut, offering a bed at $10 per night.
In 1974, the federation was in charge of 98 hostel beds around the country, while it coordinated on 1,361 beds belonging to partner organizations.
“Lebanon’s history, culture, exceptional natural sites and available archaeological landmarks predispose it to be an attraction for youth tourism,” said Tourism Minister Karam Karam. According to the ministry, an average of 50,000 foreigners ­ excluding Palestinians and Syrians ­ have traveled to the country each month so far this year. They had no information about the travelers’ purposes of visit or ages.
Abdel-Malak said current LYHF worries include acquiring international recognition, setting up more hostels and training hostel directors. Poor economic conditions here might continue to frustrate lone backpackers who generally have tight budgets, and taxis will probably still charge foreigners at least double the regular travel fair. But for people who like sheltered trips, Abdel-Malak said regular and inexpensive organized tours could be a reality by early 2003.

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