American University of Science and Technology
Instructor:
Mrs. Rola
Prepared by:
Hisham Kanawati

Cedar Island

18/5/2015 Nowadays, tourism including services is one of the world's largest and dynamically developing sectors of economic activities. And in many countries tourism and services industry is the major economy and its predicted to be the largest income generating for a country in the near future due to its high growth and development rates, volume of foreign currency inflows and infrastructure development. For decades tourism industry growth has been a major contributor to increased economic activity in the whole world. Also, it has created jobs for youth and different background people in all communities and as mentioned before, it's the dominant economic activity in some countries. (1) Tourism and services in Lebanon is a growing and promising industry. The Lebanese economy is a services economy, where services account for 75% of Lebanon's GDP which was USD 40.1 billion in 2011, whereas industry accounts for 20%, and agriculture around 5%. (2) Tourism and services form 21.1% of the economic activity in Lebanon that provides 318,000 job opportunity which contribute to 20.3% of jobs in 2015. (3) Lebanon is very well known for its nature where mountains almost touches the sea and has 225 km coastline. It's the only country that has the winter ski sport in the Middle East, plus there're 300 sunny days during the year, and in the ancient times Lebanon was covered by large forests of Cedar trees, the national emblem of the country which used to cover 13.4% of the Lebanese land area. On the other hand, Lebanon's history is big, it goes back to thousands of years ago, where tourists can visit the old cities that includes Byblos the oldest city in the world that dates back to 5000 BC. (4) Due to this background of Lebanon comes the idea of Cedar Island. A human-made island with the shape of the historical Cedar tree that can be seen from the mountains, airplanes, helicopters, sky and even space. An island that can bring so much benefits to the country. The construction of Cedar Island will start on April 2016 in front of Jounieh's shore, and is expected to be done at the end of the year 2025. This project is considered to be one of the world's biggest undertakings. Unlike other previously human-made islands that are built from metal and concrete, Lebanon's Cedar Island will be made from all natural materials – rocks and sand, this way the marine wild life won't be much affected as there's no foreign materials in the sea, plus no mountains will be destroyed to build the island as our project is going to be environmental and green as much as possible. All the rocks and the sand will be degraded from the bottom of Mediterranean sea by foreign and local companies that made a contract with our company and will be sprayed in the desired area to build the island in a Cedar shape. Cedar Island consists of a tree trunk with 12 fronds, and a surrounding crescent island that forms an 9 kilometer breakwater and will protect the main island from high waves and other environmental changes and threats. The main island is four kilometers by four kilometers and it will add around 60 kilometer to the coastline that will be covered with 9 meters depth of white sand. The tree trunk shape will be connected to the land for the ease of transportation. Beside increasing the coastline of the country, Cedar Island project will offer new jobs for the youth and for different background and skilled people. Cedar Island will offer over 10,000 job opportunity. Workers, builders, architect, civil engineers and electric engineers will be required to build the island then after the island is fully built, the same number or more will be required to run the business in the island. Although Cedar Island will attract foreign companies, famous hotels & resorts to invest in the Cedar Island. On the other hand, the island will attract tourists and rich people to come visit and buy their own villas and chalets which will bring foreign currency to the country and help the growth of the economy. The project of Cedar Island will help Lebanon to be more stable and unaffected to political situation and outboard wars, because many foreign countries and companies will invest in Lebanon and it will be an important business of high income to them that they don't want to lose or even to be affected. Around 3500 houses, villas and chalets will be built on the island with 20 hotels, shopping malls and resorts with a road network connecting the whole island together. The Cedar Island expects more than 5,000 tourists a day that includes tourists from outside the country and domestic tourists within the country. Cedar Island is more than just an island with residencies and villas. It's more like a the island of fun, memories and unforgettable times, it's the place where you can escape the reality, the place where kids, men, women and old people can have their best time, and it's the perfect place to hit all year long. Cedar Island offer its visitors anything they can would ask for and more. Hotels, resorts, restaurants, pubs and night clubs got a lot for their visitors and residents from all ages. Hotels can offer their guests a variety of choice of the rooms, from deluxe sea-view rooms to presidential and underwater suites. Hotels & resorts also indoor, outdoors, and underwater spas and fitness clubs for their customers with a variety of massages and treatments. Also a variety of restaurants to serve and satisfy people from all around the world. Furthermore, people can go diving and swim with a huge variety of fishes and sharks without any required previous experience. Moreover, people can go on boat cruises and helicopter tours so they can enjoy the sea and the sight of the Cedar Island. Cedar Island is a perfect place to experience the Marine life and discover the underwater world or meet marine mammals like dolphins and sea lion to swim and play with them. Water parks offer everyone an enjoyable time with its huge slides & pools and river rides all around the island. And for kids there are special kids clubs and nursery so parents can enjoy their time at the same time. For adults, Cedar Island have a variety of indoor & outdoor night clubs. In addition, it also got a shopping mall, a hospital, and a big stage and space that can fit to over 5000 person to hold big events in the future.

Prices will differ if the guest was a resident in the island or in a hotel or is just a visitor as the residents can get discount offers in the island. Prices depend on the type of the hotel room for example, if it's a deluxe or a suite. For the services it also varies, for example the time of the diving whether it's a 30 min dive or more. But at the end, our target market are people from middle-income and above who earns +20,000$ a year. A survey was conducted to 10 males and 10 females to determine whether they like the Cedar Island project or not. The survey included what Cedar Island offer to their guests and had 4 questions, first whether he/she like it or not. Second, If he/she want to visit it as it's done. Third, How much he/she ready to spend per day on the Island. Fourth question was to comment something about the project.

10 out of 10 men like the Cedar Island project and would like to visit it but 8 of them are ready to spend more than 150$ per day there at the Cedar Island. On the other hand, 9 out of 10 women like the project, but all of them want to visit the Cedar Island, and 9 of them are ready to spend more than 150$ per day at the Cedar Island. All the comments were positive, 6 comments were about the prices on the island and hoping that it won't be expensive. One comment from a women who didn't like the project was about that she's concerned about the environment and the effects on the marine wild life. The good point we got from the survey was even people who are not ready to spend more than 150$ per day and that one women who didn't like the project of the Cedar Island, want to visit the Cedar Island. In brief, Cedar Island project is a win-win project. It will support the economy in Lebanon and help the growth and help the peace in Lebanon and make it more stable as explained before. And it will offer over new 10,000 job opportunity. Moreover, Lebanon will be widely known through its Cedar shaped island to the world so people all around the world will come visit Lebanon which will help the growth of the economy.

References : 1. World Travel & Tourism Council. 2. World Bank Q&A Global Finance. 3. Ministry of Tourism & Travel. 4. Dumper, Michael; Stanley, Bruce E.; Abu-Lughod, Janet L. (2006). Cities of the Middle East and North Africa. ABC-CLIO.