As southern Libya emerges from years of violence, tourism is becoming a viable reality again, but many hospitality focused businesses don’t have the needed skills to stand out to customers. In July and August, USAID’s Libya Economic Acceleration Project (LEAP) provided a twenty-day catering and cooking vocational training for the staff of the Al-Karam Tourist Resort in Wadi Etba, located in southern Libya’s Murzuq Basin. The resort is a popular venue for local families, hosts scout camps, festivals, school visits, weddings, and corporate events.
Through USAID’s technical assistance, resort staff received training in catering fundamentals, tools, and best practices. They also learned how to prepare a variety of traditional and international recipes to enhance the resort’s menu offerings. Special emphasis was placed on cake design techniques to help the resort stand out in the regional market.
The result has been increased bookings and now the resort plans to hire ten additional staff to keep up with demand, supporting job creation in the region. USAID continues to enhance the capacity of businesses to meet increasingly competitive markets, helping to bolster growing tourism, while strengthening economic resilience in southern Libya.
LEAP
