“The Role of Small Firms in Libyan Tourism Development”

The paper investigates what should be done to develop Libyan tourism enterprises, how todevelop strategic plans for the industry to increase its market share, and how to compete in theinternational market place.The tourism industry is important to Libya’s economy and greater consideration should be givento its development. Most sectors in the industry depend on small enterprises, composing 50%privately owned, the rest full or part government owned.The paper reports on an assessment of the existing environment which currently exists in thetourism industry in Libya, and draws primarily on existing research, secondary data sources and ashort questionnaire to key policy makers. Secondary data sources include existing literature in thearea, which consist of both published material and ‘grey’ literature (including reports fromnational bodies, universities and consultants). In addition, data has been obtained from keytourism policy makers in Libya.The paper concludes by reporting on “best practice” regarding the development of the Libyantourism industry, since this approach is important to Libyan small tourism enterprises (STEs), asemulation amongst these enterprises enables them to compete with leading firms and is a goodway of spreading “good practice”.[...]