Despite rich heritage, Libya fails to woo tourists

Monday, November 8, 2021

Libya is a country unsettled by years of chaos.

Libya has had little peace witnessing few tourists since the 2011 NATO-backed rebellion against Muammar Gaddafi initiating a decade of violent turbulencewith armed groups taking control of territory and battles raged in its cities.

Libya boasts of rich heritage, including desert architecture in the south some of the Mediterranean region’s finest ancient remains along its coastline.

One can visit the southern city of Ghadames and the AcacusMountains, the site of ancient rock art. Then there is the Roman city of Sebratha. A trip to Leptis Magna, the best-known of Libya’s Roman sites, would be worth visit for most travelers.

Before Libya fell apart in 2011, only around 25,000 tourists visited a yearconsidering the difficult visa regimens. Since the revolution, hardly anyonehasmade a trip.

Fights between several armed forces occasionally take place in various cities and prospects about a political agreement to reinforce stability looks quite flimsy.

Libya is home to five UNESCO World Heritage sites, but in 2016, they were endangered due to instability and conflict.

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