“I travel a lot for my work. And every time I mention that I am from Lebanon, people ask me if the country is safe, if it’s a desert, if we’re at a war… This makes me sad and pisses me off. I love Lebanon so much that I can’t tolerate anyone badmouthing it, and I take it very personally when people say Lebanon is a dangerous country. They are talking about my home!

That’s why I co-founded Show Me Lebanon six months ago with my friend Hala, to show the magnificence of our country. We make people experience Lebanon with locals: tourists get to experience the food, traditions, lifestyle, on top of visiting the country. It is the best way to reveal the beauty and the qualities of our country and change the perspective of tourists.

And if by doing that, I can convince my closest friends to come back to Lebanon, it would be great! They all live abroad and don’t want to come back. They think I’m wasting my time, that there is no future here. And this makes me very sad. Because, if Lebanese people don’t fight to spread a positive light on their country, who’s going to do it?”

Emil J. Moawad, 29, is a management consultant, businessman, architect, and the co-founder, with his friend Hala Ghoussoub, of Show Me Lebanon.

Show Me Lebanon provides tours in Lebanon guided by locals for an authentic experience.

Text and pic: Rachel Notteau