Culture, tourism, and territory: Analyzing discourses and perceptions of actors in Byblos and Baalbek in Lebanon

A higher degree of consensus exists between local actors, residents, and visitors regarding cultural tourism, leisure, and territorial development in Byblos compared to Baalbek. This finding emerges from a mixed-methods study analyzing discourses and perceptions across 509 participants (264 in Byblos, 245 in Baalbek) using qualitative surveys and discursive analysis of documentation. The research reveals distinct cultural dynamics: Byblos leans toward inclusive development and leisure tourism, while Baalbek emphasizes religious tourism. These differences are linked to the cities' religious backgrounds—Byblos being Christian and Baalbek Muslim—and shaped by geopolitical influences and local-visitor interactions. The study underscores how communal identities and external factors mobilize territorial development in Lebanon's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Chaddad, R. (2020). Culture, tourism, and territory: Analyzing discourses and perceptions of actors in Byblos and Baalbek in Lebanon. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 19(6), 805–818. https://doi.org/10.1080/14766825.2020.1802470