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PRESS RELEASE

USAID LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE MAPPING WEBSITE

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Beirut, Lebanon

Media Notice
For Immediate Release

Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a new interactive mapping website, www.LebanonMaps.net.  The USAID/Lebanon Mission Director Raouf Youssef reviewed the website with Minister of Tourism Mr. Joe Sarkis, SRI International and other partners.  Development of the website was done in partnership with SRI International, the Social and Cultural Development Association (INMA) and ArabiaGIS Company.

USAID funded the website’s development as a tool for promoting rural tourism in Lebanon.   It is a public interactive Internet-based application built on a comprehensive tourism database of more than 12,000 points of interest plotted by SRI and INMA on satellite maps and supported by a powerful routing engine.  Travelers will be able to ask questions about specific attractions, locate these on a map, and receive customized itineraries.   The system provides comprehensive coverage of the country with tourism-focused interactive maps.