Libya - beyond the Arab spring: Tourism prospects and organizational climate in 4- and 5-star hotels

The Arab Spring of protests and political upheaval was accompanied by a sharp drop in international tourist arrivals across the Middle East (WTO, 2011). Libyan tourism, problematic to begin with and beset by the civil war that led to the eventual demise of the Gaddafi regime, was hit with particular severity. Nonetheless, while cruise ships and many airlines stopped travelling to Tripoli and Benghazi during the civil war, there is now a more stable and open political environment, albeit with considerable teething problems and occasional setbacks. For example, the National Transitional Council released a vision of more Western-style business relations and democratic government (NTC, 2011), indicating a potential step forward towards Libya's greater integration in the global economy.