SWOT AnalysisEl Mina Old Town (Lebanon)

Samer AnnousSofia, 5 July 2007

The Local Working Group

§ A. Kader Alameddine, El Mina Mayor § Dr. Jean Touma (El Mina

Municipality Media Officer) § Abdallah Jobor, President of the

Tourism Committee (El Mina Municipality) § Fida Americani, School of Tourism

(UOB)§ Munim Alameddine, President,

Order of Engineers § Judith Ashkar, Art Workshop

Founder, Painter

§ Amal Iaali, GIS Expert § Tony Bando, Technical Support § Samer Annous, ABAAD

Association§ Robert Ayoub and Mohamad

Sultan, Representatives of Restaurant Owners in the Old Town § Sana Helweh, Journalist and Social

Activist§ Omar A Wahab, Rami Assad, Rim

Jundi and Rania Assad (Project Assistants)

MED-PACT

First Meeting of the Local Working Group 24 February 2007§ Collecting all the data available (studies carried out by

UOB, University of Kaslik, LAU, and Lebanese University) in addition to the information from the Chamber of Trade and Commerce. § Discussing the procedure that should be followed for

the SWOT analysis.§ Developing the SWOT analysis questionnaire

(focusing on practicality but comprehensibility) § Identifying major stakeholders

MED-PACT

Focused Group Discussions MED-PACT

Old Town Points of Strengths MED-PACT

Results of the SWOT Analysis/ Strengths • An attractive pedestrian

zone for people who seek historical sights and simple lifestyle. Historical mosques, churches, and buildings- Cultural Heritage

• Local Community (Multi-religious and diverse, open-minded, hospitable)

MED-PACT

Results of the SWOT Analysis/ Strengths • High rate of local trade in

terms of grocery stores and vegetables, fruits, and fish commerce and recently restaurants, cafes and pubs

• New paving of the old town + lighting of the roads

• Minot Street- A Success Story

MED-PACT

Results of the SWOT Analysis/ Strengths • MC fully supportive and

trying to preserve the old town’s cultural heritage.

• It is the center of the old city which plays a great role as an attraction for tourists and even for the locals. The ambience of a town inside the city

MED-PACT

Results of the SWOT Analysis/ Weaknesses • Poor infrastructure • Lack of professional staff

in the Municipality • Absence of a strategic

plan for the city • Minimal financial

resources • High unemployment rate• Absence of budget and

average accommodation

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Results of the SWOT Analysis/ Weaknesses • No signs, maps, or

guides to assist visitors- Limited market access

• Bureaucracy • Resentment of some

locals

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Results of the SWOT Analysis/ Opportunities • Tourism Potential • Old pedestrian path • Developing small

scale businesses (bed and breakfast, pubs, artisan shops, etc.)

• Local (Banks & NGO’s) and EU funds

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Results of the SWOT Analysis/ Threats

• Political Instability• Economic deterioration • Competition from nearby

historic cities such as Batroun

• Management of the local endeavors

• Unexpected changes in the laws

MED-PACT