29/07/2026
"Sustainable tourism" shouldn't mean replacing licensed professionals with unregulated labor. 🇱🇧
Across Lebanon, NGOs, associations and tour operators are running commercial tours under the banner of "eco-tourism, responsible and community-based travel". But behind the marketing, many are bypassing national licensed tourist guides in favor of unlicensed hosts and informal operations.
The line between authentic community inclusion and unregulated labor has gotten dangerously blurred.
True sustainable tourism must be built on legal integrity, fair labor practices and respect for official qualifications. You cannot claim to support local communities while stripping certified local professionals of their livelihoods.
This being said, next time you book a tour in Lebanon, ask: Is your guide legally licensed?
Because true responsible travel requires fair labor practices. Protect certified professionals!