Lebanon's caretaker Minister of Tourism Walid Nassar announced that he is in the process of nominating the town of Kfardebian (Fakra, Ayoun es-Siman) in collaboration with the Arab Tourism Organization, to be chosen as the "Capital of Arab Winter Tourism." This coincides with the Lebanese-Arab tourism conference scheduled to take place next spring in Lebanon, organized by the Ministry of Tourism.
In an interview with "Wardna," Kfardebian's Mukhtar (village chief) Wassim Mehanna revealed that the decision to nominate the town came after Minister Nassar witnessed the beauty, craftsmanship, and high-level techniques employed by the companies operating the ski centers regarding modern safety measures and all associated services such as emergency assistance and all protective elements for skiers. Despite the crises affecting Lebanon and the region, Kfardebian remains a significant destination for tourists, being "the largest resort from all Arab countries and many foreign nations, for skiing and enjoying its winter climate."
Mehanna disclosed that the town is considered the largest skiing and winter tourism center in Lebanon and the Middle East, featuring two ski centers: the private Fakra Club and the Mzar ski center, which includes over 40 lifts and can currently accommodate about 2,000 skiers daily, not to mention all skiing-related activities. Additionally, it hosts the Lebanese Alpine skiing championship, snowboarding, and snowmobiles events, along with establishing a rare grass skiing center worldwide.
He further noted that the name Kfardebian derives from Syriac, meaning "Village of the Gazelles," and it contains Roman, Byzantine, and Phoenician artifacts and ancient churches, as well as the archaeological Wadi El-Salib, making it a distinguished tourist destination in all seasons, especially since its vast highlands attract off-road adventure enthusiasts. Kfardebian is a Lebanese town in the Kesrouan District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, located 44 km from Beirut, with an elevation reaching up to 2,800 meters above sea level.
