Kuno, the 6 months validity is standard around the world, AFAIK.

... groups starting from 4, to oblige the group to take a mandatory guide and a tourist police...

Good point. Not even USSR was that bad and even in China today you can DIY without your own vehicle.

You do wonder if it's a 'control' thing as Roman suggested. Either way, as long as the oil and gas keeps flowing in Libya and Algeria, I suspect neither have any incentive to develop tourism like their neighbours. I'll bet the Alg state makes more in a day from gas than it does in a year of tourism. Maybe Libya too, which must have among the highest GDPs per head in Africa.

In Libya's case it's a waste as at least they don't have the scourge of AQIM to scare people off.

Ch

I do certainly agree, that in countries where oil&gas are providing the main income, the other industries - and so the tourism - do only have a secondary importance.

On the other side, not everybody in such countries does automatically participate in such 'natural income'.

I cannot at all judge the actual Libyan politics. My personal experience of last year, when I had a TV crew in the country was very fascinating. Most difficult to get all the permissions etc. but then, once they were here, they could really act without any hindrance.

I gave it up to try to understand everything...

@ Roman


The list of requirements duly reported by the Moderator is the same list of fulfilments required, for instance, by Italian consulates and embassy in LY for our citizens going in Eu ( Shengen standards)but applied not this month but and since more 3 years.

The latest set up of the local ministry of tourism, proofs that no hindrance are against its development , may be the opposite

What Kuno 2 report about last bad season for T.O is correct, but this happens mostly to the irregular one’s.

Cheers
Budrinna

NOTE.

When the EU traveller is holder of an eletronic passport, no fingers tips are requested.
Visa is granted after 2 working weeks .

Hi Budrinna,

what do you mean by electronic passport ? do they exist ?

Maybe you are talking about a biometric passports ?

Regards,
Tomaz

I think he is. They are common now and have the logo below on the front and a chip in the back. So no need to end up like Reinhold Messner.

Ch

...but this happens mostly to the irregular one’s.

@ Budrinna, actually I do not know 'Irregular Tour Operator's' in Libya. My above information was provided to me by well renown, long term established, regular tour operators.

I am really wondering, how you - or let us say Libya - wants to make the planned tourist facilities attractive for visitors, if the conditions to obtain a visa are as you have made them now. It is not really a question if Schengen has the same rules for Libyans coming to Europe but your new tourist facilities will definitely be in competition with the well establisehd ones in the neighbouring mediterranean-states. If a tourist can choose, between the very easy accessible facilities of Tunisia and Egypt, then I cannot really imagine that Libya would be a competitive option after all.

Naturally, we all are aware that you don't need tourism to create an income for your Country. As long as you can sell oil & gas, tourism will probably not become an important subject for you. On the other hand, it is a fact, the tourists have many options to choose - and do not need Libya either as well.

Budrinna,

Thanks for your reply. Now, let me ask you something:

Over the years I have made several trips to Libya and have great fondness for the country and the people, even made friends in Libya with whom I keep in touch regularly. Now you are telling me that because Libya has set up a new ministry, tourism is going to flourish, and it is only going to be easier for people to come and enjoy your beautiful country.

Do you really think so? Do you want to make me believe the new visa rules are there to encourage me to go to Tripoli or Ghat to visit my friends?

You said it’s not your job to discuss politics. Then it’s better, I suppose, not to stick out your neck at all.

Two working weeks waiting time (which is like three weeks anyway) for biometric passport holders? He he... you blink and here comes another visa rule!:clap:

@ Kuno2
Never said and allow to anybody to say, for present and future, that Budrinna is in any way involved or have anything to do in the matter concerning local tourism policy and/or its rule’s enaction . If you are interested to go deeper on the matter just turn your enquiries to the local Ministry of Tourism, surely you will find official and duly answer as well get revised statistics from where drawing more precise checks about the drop of presence of tourists .

@ Roman

Hereby confirm that politics is not our job , but above all Budrinna do respect forum rule’s that is only to forward infos as more official and correct possible to help travel in LY , and so will follow regardless of what you believe of what you think if tourism will flourish or not, leaving you the pleasure to cllap or to guess , sticking out or in your neck at your exclusive choice ,on the future of the next coming rules. As the Moderator well said, nobody is joking here , neither Budrinna.

Salam .

Budrinna;

your posts are somehow confusing. It always starts in a way, giving the reader the impression that you have first hand information and it -not only to me- suggests that you are either a Libyan tour operator or an employee of some tourist related organisation.

But then, as soon as somebody asks you a direct question in regard to your previous post, you step back and declare that you have nothing to do with it at all and then you request the one who had asked to contact a Libyan newspaper, an Authority or whatever...

I must admit that it is quite difficult for me to recognize your real intention here in this forum - actually I could not find it yet.

Maybe it is just like one senior member of this forum wrote to me once: "Burdrinna's posts have not much helpful content but at least they stirr up a little bit..."

:confused1:

"I must admit that it is quite difficult for me to recognize your real intention here in this forum "

Yes that's true AND also it's always very difficult to know the real intention of Lybian authorities and their 'true' regulations as well.

I think they have nothing to do with individual tourists, it's not their problem.

RR.

@ Kuno2
Very interesting remark .(the senior member’s one)

@ RoRo
Great. RR
But , confidentially are You really sure that individual tourists aren’t their problem?
Budrinna

I agree, it is not easy to recognize the concept in regard of the planned tourism in Libya. Just recently there was the 'TITEX' (Tripoli International Tourist Exhibition). Mostly presenting models of the planned tourist compounds which shall cover actually all the beautiful spots at the beaches. I wonder, how such huge installations should be 'filled' under the given circumstances...

The 'individual tourist' is not an economic factor at the first glance - but actually it is them, the individuals who are 'discovering' the interesting places and teling about them so that more people would be interested in the Country and its people!

A standard-tourist complexe somewhere at the beach would accommodate thousands of people. But the actual contact to "Locals" would not be t Libyans but most probably to hired staff from Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. An nothing is a more desperate location than an empty tourist-compound.

Personally I hope that Libya can manage to keep as it is, and not to go for the 'mass tourism'. Imagine - only 1'000 tourists visiting Umm el Ma'a each day.... horrible!

Hi Kuno2

Just for more info and knowledge about the aims of TITEX.


Tripoli International Tourism Expo(TITEX)

Start Date: 09-MAY-09
End Date: 12-MAY-09
Venue: Tripoli International Fair
City: Tripoli,
Country: Libya
Event Profile:Tripoli International Tourism Expo(TITEX) aims at introducing the variety of the Syrian touristic climate and develops the environment of tourism in the region in order to attract as much visitors and tourists as they can to visit the outstanding features of our country.
Visitor's Profile:Hotels & Resorts, Trips luggage, Travel and Tourism Magazines, Fun Towns, Restaurants and Clubs, Tourism offices, Tourism Ministries, Tourist companies, Tourist Projects companies, Airlines, Tourist Collages and Institutes, Museums & monuments, Transporting and Renting Cars companies are the target visitors.
Exhibitor's Profile:Profile for exhibit include Hotels, Resorts, Healthy Pools, Trips Equipment Shops, Photography Tools, Fun Towns and Games, Cinemas, Hotels Equipment, Garden Services, Clubs and Restaurants, Communication Services, Museums, Cultural Centers, Public Services, Airlines, Transporting and Renting Cars Companies, Tourism & Travel Magazines, Touristic Institutes, Evaluating Touristic Projects Companies, International Airports, Arabic & Foreign Ministries of Tourism.
Organizer : Pheonicia Group
501 Silverside Road, Suite # 105,
Delaware, United States Of America.
Tel: +(1)-(509)-2776801

Just to agreed to the very interesting remark of the senior member’s one who wrote to you .


Referring to the “horrible” future you foretell on Um El Maa , have you seen its present? Its daily spectacle of individual’s luxury 4x4 , quads , sidecars too, roaring up and down the dunes while the tourists willing to discover LY ( this was true at the end of embargo in case not now ) are still hoarded on board of rusty FJ . The hundred’s bottles of Prosecco wine and spirits buried under its sand? Shall we talk how it is introduced by individuals ? the way & tips? ( nothing against alcohol , but if it is forbidden, first come for the foreign traveller the respect of usages and customs of the nation he visit),? Shall we talk about the ridiculous profits of the four local straw huts called actually tourist camps or shall we go on with Somehow more confused or more officially? From our side we could keep on with pleasure on the same line but the Forum is not the correct place to comment those and others points, that's why we reported above the official aims of the fair you got the opportunity to visit, (also visited by representatives of our office ):May be you will read through ( and find )the true premise of the hoped future of Tourism in LY that everywhere never lied for the benefit of few , but for all LY citizens as foreigns .
Budrinna

TOURISM: LIBYA, NEW VISA METHODS INFLUENCE NEW ARRIVALS
25.06.2009 - ANSAmed

TRIPOLI - Three weeks ago getting a tourist visa to visit Libya suddenly became more complicated and the result is a steep decline in the number of new tourist arrivals to the country. The new rules do not allow tourists to pick up their visa directly in the airport, as used to happen before. Now it can only be released by Libyan embassies and consulates located in the countries of origin, and a lot of paperwork is also needed. For example, a six month passport visa requires a bilingual stamp, health insurance worth 30,000 euros, a bank statement covering the past 6 months, an invitation by a local travel agency, a hotel reservation and a return airline ticket. Once the mentioned paperwork has been submitted, the request will be processed in 10 to 12 days. However, the Libyan embassy in Rome and the consulate in Milan are hard pressed to meet demand (partly because of limited office hours) and many have had to change their travel schedule. Mohammed Fakrun, director of International Cooperation with the Authority for Libyan Tourism and Handicrafts, suggested that "this is a problem of reciprocity that is probably connected to the issue of visas for Libyans who intend to enter a member Country of the Shengen agreement". Zuer, who works with a local travel agency, complained that "Our work has halved". Nobody can say whether and when these rules will be repealed. Fakrun explained that "the only positive aspect is that this is low season for Libya. The high season, during which you can also visit the desert, runs from November to March". Libyàs tour operators hope that by then, especially in light of the scheduled celebration of Gaddafìs 40 years in power, the bureaucratic load on tourists may be sorted out.

Source: ANSAmed

@ Budrinna;

Quote: "Event Profile:Tripoli International Tourism Expo(TITEX) aims at introducing the variety of the Syrian touristic climate and develops the environment of tourism in the region in order to attract as much visitors and tourists as they can to visit the outstanding features of our country." Unquote

Syrian touristic climate?

------

Again @ Budrinna;

your post gives me the impression that you have certain negative feelings against the so called 'mass tourism'. But check out your message about the TITEX once more: Most of the projects presented there were just pointing into this direction (I had the occassion to visit the small exhibition, by th way). I mean, if Libya choses this way for the tourism... what shall the 'individual tourists' do against it?