Tripoli - Libya

Libya is preparing for a new step on the map of Arab cultural tourism, with the announcement of the opening of a short film festival next November, in a trend that reflects the country’s desire to restore its artistic and cultural presence and to transform cinematic events into tools to support travel and tourism investment.

7 thousand years of history at the service of the screen

Abdel Basset Bouqanda, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development in the Libyan National Unity Government and Chairman of the General Authority for Cinema, Theater and Arts, said during his participation in the meeting of the General Union of Arab Artists in Hurghada on the sidelines of the fourth session of the Hurghada Youth Film Festival:

Libya has a cultural history that extends back about 7,000 years, and it currently includes 8 festivals, with a new short film festival that will open next November.

Festivals as an engine for travel

The step is gaining importance beyond cinematic activity, as art festivals can turn into a direct catalyst for travel, by attracting artists, filmmakers, critics, and the public, revitalizing hotels, restaurants, transportation, recreational activities, and services related to visitors.

Culture is a tourism product
Libya currently includes 8 festivals, which provides a base on which to build an agenda of events that extends throughout the year. It gives Libyan destinations an opportunity to transcend reliance on traditional tourism patterns and present culture and arts as a tourism product capable of attracting new segments of visitors. Libya's possession of a large civilizational and cultural asset allows for the integration of festivals with visits to historical and heritage sites, which increases the duration of a tourist's stay and increases his spending within the destination.

The importance of the festival for Arab tourists and investors

This trend represents a real opportunity for Arab tourists looking for different cultural experiences, as it allows them to combine attending a cinematic event and visiting archaeological sites dating back thousands of years in one trip. It also opens the door for the Arab investor to benefit from the developing cultural events sector in Libya, through partnerships in hospitality, tourism services and organizing festivals, especially as the country moves towards restoring its role as an incubator for Arab arts.