Towards the Organization and Reinforcement of Responsible Tourism in Mashreq – AREMDT Network
Duration: 2010 – 2012
Beneficiaries: Eco-lodges in Mashreq and the populations of these villages, key tourism stakeholders and tourists in general
Donor: CCFD – Comité Catholique contre la Faim et pour le Développement – Terre Solidaire
Location: Lebanon, Jordan
Objectives:
Since 2007, Mada has been a member of a Mediterranean network (AREMDT) for responsible and solidarity tourism consisting of several countries including France, Morocco, Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. The AREMDT network aims towards the common objectives of engaging tourism stakeholders in a process of professionalization of their activities, and of initiating national networks that would bring together different actors in a spirit of solidarity. This network allows its members to share and exchange information, tourists and training workshops. Mada is the Middle East network coordinator.
The Syrian conflict has somewhat disrupted the AREMDT approach in Mashreq. It has been decided to rethink the strategy of promoting alternative tourism and to reorganize the trainings, because of the difficulty and danger of trying to include our Syrian partner Cheikh Hilal in the 2011 AREMDT projects.
Activities:
Three vectors guide AREMDT Mashreq actions: capacity-building, mainly through trainings, for local communities, strengthening of the Middle East network, and promotion of sustainable tourism through awareness activities underlining environmental issues.
Capacity building:
– Trainings on the creation of trails and on security and management in Jordan,
– Trainings with the French Long-Distance Hiking Federation in France,
– Supporting Ehmej municipality in tourism marketing strategy
Network:
– Exchanges of experience during the visit of Jordanian partners to Lebanon,
– Meeting with actors involved in new solidarity tourism projects during the International Forum on Fair Tourism and Sustainable Development (FITS) with AREMDT members in Morocco,
– Meetings in France with various partners involved in responsible tourism and natural parks.
Promotion of the alternative approach and awareness activities:
– Production and dissemination of six short videos to highlight the projects related to responsible tourism and to introduce the local actors,
– Production and dissemination of brochures promoting AREMDT Mashreq in both French and English.
