From homes to guesthouses: some Lebanese find ways to survive economic meltdown
Despite Lebanon's worst financial crisis since its civil war, guesthouse investment is growing as rural tourism soars, generating much-needed revenue for its cash-strapped citizens and empowering local communities and talents.
Life has never been better for Rehab Noureddine, a 64-year-old who owns and manages a guesthouse in Jbaa, a village in southern Lebanon.
What was once an old home that she inherited from her father is now a tourist destination for visitors from different parts of the world — something that was beyond Noureddine’s imagination.
“I find pleasure in running this guesthouse as it allows me to show people the welcoming Lebanese hospitality, our traditionally preserved food that we inherited from our ancestors and it gives me financial independence while I feel productive,” Noureddine told Al-Monitor.
These guesthouses are preserving indigenous culture while promoting rural tourism and keeping Lebanese traditions, customs, handicrafts and cuisine alive.
