The statement clarified that the Ministry had reached an amicable agreement with the “Municipality of Jeita” temporarily authorizing it to manage, operate, and maintain the grotto, following a period of forced closure, out of its concern to reopen the grotto due to its importance and national value. It added that the agreement with the municipality, which was made in accordance with the Public Procurement Law, is considered a temporary measure until the preparation of a terms and conditions booklet for an open and transparent tender to select the new investor to manage and operate the grotto in accordance with international standards.
The statement continued that the head of the “Municipality of Jeita,” Walid Baroud, had verbally contacted the Minister of Tourism, “Laura Khazen Lahoud,” and presented the idea of holding a celebration inside the grotto, without providing sufficient details about the nature of this activity. The Minister confirmed at the time that any such activity requires submitting a formal written request from the municipality, which the Ministry would evaluate after studying the security, financial, cultural, administrative, and public safety aspects.
However, “the Municipality” – according to the statement – organized the celebration without submitting the required written request, without presenting the contracts or disclosing the financial revenues of the event, or consulting with the “Lebanese Caving Club” as stipulated in the existing contract between the two parties.
The statement indicated that the Ministry of Tourism will send a formal warning letter to the “Municipality of Jeita” to identify the violations that were committed, demanding full compliance with contractual and ethical obligations, and the application of Circular No. 36/2025 issued by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, which prohibits the use of public places and national landmarks without obtaining prior licenses from the competent authorities.
The Ministry concluded by emphasizing its appreciation for the efforts of the “Municipality of Jeita” in restarting the grotto and achieving record revenues since mid-July, but stressed in return that compliance with legal procedures and obtaining prior approvals is a prerequisite for any activity of an investment or promotional nature inside the grotto. The Ministry also confirmed that it is working to finalize the preparation of the open tender’s terms and conditions booklet before the end of the current year to ensure the proper management, operation, and maintenance of the grotto.
