Growth in an Unlikely Place: Tourism in Libya

After more than four decades of repressive rule under Muammar Gaddafi, opposition fighters in Libya have been successful in overthrowing the authoritarian dictator and setting up a more open, democratic society. Though still in its infancy, the new system has shown potential, drawing upon Libya’s valuable natural resources and fairly educated population. Unfortunately, the future is not all roses. The uprising has largely stagnated the Libyan economy, causing a slowdown in industries across the board and a general sense of uncertainty. Libya plans to address this problem, however, in a way that you may not expect.

When one thinks of vacation spots, sandy beaches and warm sunshine probably come to mind— not the dry, wildly varying climate of Libya. A full-fledged promotion of tourism, however, is exactly what the country plans to put into motion. Officials hope that an influx of tourists can help the country take a big step towards economic recovery.