From Leptis Magna to Ghadames: heritage as a shared asset

Few countries can claim what Libya can. Along its coast stand Leptis Magna and Sabratha, two of the best-preserved Roman cities anywhere in the Mediterranean, and Cyrene, one of the great cities of the Greek world. Inland lie the old town of Ghadames, with its distinctive covered streets, and the rock art of the Tadrart Acacus, which records thousands of years of life in the Sahara. All five are inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Add to this a long Mediterranean coastline, desert landscapes of extraordinary beauty and a living culture of hospitality, and the case for heritage and tourism as part of Libya’s future becomes clear.

Heritage as a national and global asset

These sites belong to Libya, and they also belong to the shared story of humanity. That dual character makes heritage a natural field for international cooperation. Conservation science, archaeology, museum practice and site management are areas in which partners around the world have deep experience and a genuine interest in working with Libyan institutions.

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Heritage is one of the few assets that grows in value the more it is shared.

A fair reading of where we are

Libya’s heritage institutions and the professionals who work in them have protected these sites through difficult years, often with limited means. Visitor numbers remain modest, and infrastructure for tourism is still developing. That is precisely why the opportunity is so large: a patient, well-planned approach can build a tourism sector that protects what makes Libya special rather than consuming it.

Building step by step

01Conservation first

Documentation, protection and restoration, supported by international expertise, are the foundation of everything else.

02Training and jobs

Guides, conservators, hospitality staff and site managers are skilled roles. Training young Libyans for them creates employment in communities near the sites.

03Infrastructure and access

Visitor facilities, transport links and clear visa procedures allow the sector to grow at a sustainable pace.

04Telling the story

Museums, digital content and partnerships with universities and cultural institutions abroad can bring Libya’s heritage to audiences long before they visit in person.

Why it matters beyond tourism

Heritage shapes how a country sees itself and how the world sees it. For young Libyans, pride in Leptis Magna or Ghadames is part of a confident national identity. For visitors and partners, these sites offer a different and truer picture of Libya than the one that often appears in headlines.

I would like to see a time when a visitor can walk through the forum of Leptis Magna in the morning and watch the sun set over the dunes in the evening, guided by Libyans trained to share their country’s story. That future is worth building, carefully and together.

The views expressed in this article are my own and do not represent any employer, government body or institution with which I am affiliated.