Over the past few months of living in Tripoli, we have seen some signs that Libya is working hard to get back on its feet. Today was a historical day…an ATM machine actually worked! That may seem like a small step…but for the longest time only the AMAN bank was offering any banking services.
On Feb 17, the anniversary of the start of the revolution, there were school children out painting parts of the city. It was an effort to join together and encourage the new Libya. Also on that day, hundreds of shop owners started to repaint their storefronts light blue – removing the “Qaddafi green.”
Although some may criticize the speed at which the country is recovering…the point is they are recovering! Work crews can be seen around the city painting, fixing fountains, and restarting building projects. Compared to many other countries, Libya seems to be moving forward at a good pace.
What about tourism? Libya is still not offering any tourist visas…and no one really knows when they shall start. But one thing we know, Libyans are excited about the possibility of developing their country for tourism. So much potential…yet not yet developed.
Now is the time to start planning your next trip for the end of 2012 or 2013. Welcome to Libya!
