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Gold/Mining/Energy : Lundin Oil (LOILY, LOILB Sweden) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Razorbak who wrote (2295)	4/17/2001 11:20:21 PM
From: Tomas	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2742

OT: ... and there's always the Libyan desert The Observer, April 15 By Stephen Khan It may seem an unlikely destination for holidaymakers. But Libya is trying to extinguish the Western image of it as a pariah state and become an oasis for Britons seeking hooligan-free sunshine and culture without queues. A plan to develop tourism in the North African state is being implemented by the country's Tourism Investment and Promotion Board. A source at the board said Libya was keen to welcome tourists from the UK. 'The British will love the historic archeological sites, the desert and the weather. We are developing parts of the country to create the infrastructure required for visitors.' Libya even hired a British consultancy. Jim Fletcher, 47, who recently completed work on the project, said: 'Our 20-year forecast came up with a figure of just over one million visitors by 2020.' Around 60,000 tourists a year now travel to Libya, but few make the journey from the UK, with the country still largely seen as a haven for terrorists and religious fundamentalists. Fletcher was a regular visitor when working on the project for London-based High-Point Rendell and considers such views to be outdated. 'Most of Libya's 60,000 tourists come from France, Italy and Germany,' said Fletcher.' While resorts and luxury hotels are being built, Libya is aiming at select areas of the market and has no plans to take on the Costas of Spain or the Greek islands in a beach war. Fletcher said: 'Remember that alcohol isn't available and won't be in the conceivable future. That will put off a lot of people.' Lovers of Classical ruins will find ancient temples and theatres dramatically sited beside the Mediterranean, and statues and mosaics as fine as any in Europe. All they lack are the crowds. Tripoli boasts a castle, a harbour, a maze of alleys and covered markets, and fine examples of Ottoman and Italian architecture. Close by are two Roman sites: Sabratha and Leptis Magna. Libyans are hospitable to visitors and, unlike many North African destinations, the country's streets and souks are free of touts. The 1,600-mile coastline remains largely unspoilt, and the route from Tripoli to the second city, Ben-ghazi, offers spectacular views. British travellers to Libya need a visa and must be part of an organised group, although this latter requirement could be dropped soon. A few tour operators and airlines such as British Airways jumped into the market soon after the relaxation of sanctions two years ago when Libya handed over two suspects in the Lockerbie bomb case. The bid to prise pounds out of British pockets has come from Muammar Gadaffi, Libya's leader. 'Nothing happens in Libya without the man at the top's say so,' said Fletcher. 'It was the Libyan government that funded our study, so clearly Gadaffi wants tourists from our country to visit his.' Libya is prepared to spend several million pounds on creating the infrastructure needed: new roads, possibly a new airport, desert lodges and beach resorts. observer.co.uk ____________________________________ Scot hired to lure tourists to Libya Sunday Mail, April 15 BY LINDSAY MCGARVIE EXCLUSIVE A SCOT has been enlisted by Colonel Gadaffi to turn Libya into a sun and sand tourist destination. Jim Fletcher is spearheading a drive to send planeloads of holiday-makers to the country shunned since the Lockerbie bombing. He was recruited by the Libyan leader three years ago when he was asked to examine how many British tourists would be prepared to enjoy the beaches and cultural attractions - even World War II battle sites. United Nations sanctions against Libya were still in place when he first went out. But now Libyan Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi has been convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, sanctions have been suspended. And Jim has drafted plans to spark a holiday boom. With 2000 kilometres of unspoilt coastline, there are plans to build tourist resorts. Jim, 50, of Clarkston, Glasgow, went to Libya for London-based consultants High-Point Rendal. He says: "It has attractions of a cultural and adventure nature and some of the most spectacular Greek and Roman sites in the world." In the capital Tripoli, Jim says the medieval market and Italian and Ottoman architecture are the main points of interest.The Libyans also hope the battlefields where the Desert Rats took on Rommel will become a draw for British tourists. But with strict Islamic laws against women in bikinis and alcohol, it will be some time before it challenges the Spanish costas. Jim said: "From place to place, there are road blocks. But it doesn't seem to me to be an in-your-face military regime." In his report to Gadaffi's tourism minister, he outlined a 20-year plan, with an immediate five-year action plan to kick-start the industry. Now luxury hotel-building projects are under way. He pointed out that while many holidaymakers may be put off by the alcohol ban, there is a possibility Gadaffi may relax that law, just as has happened in Morocco and Tunisia. He said: "The Libyans we met didn't want to speak openly about Lockerbie, but privately we exchanged views quite freely with several of them. "Tourist access to Libya was prevented up to the mid-90s. " But Gadaffi has changed his tune and now wants tourists to visit Libya." Come on down: Libya's Colonel Gadaffi is hoping we can let bygones be bygones and go there for our hols.