The artisanal work of attracting tourists

Amid tutorials on petunia pruning and best bouquet arrangement practices, roots of an altogether different nature are being nurtured at the Beirut Garden Show.

As part of an effort to revive tourism and breathe new life into Lebanese traditions, the Garden Show highlighted a number of local artisans, craftsmen and food producers from less-known corners of the country.

Some, like Omran Makari, who makes chairs with seats woven from Lebanese grasses, say their trades are alive and well.

“I’ve been doing this for 35 years,” Makari said from his stand at the show. “I learned it from my father, who learned it from his grandfather. For 130 years, four generations of my family have practiced this craft.”

And the tradition will continue, at least for another generation. Makari’s imposing son sat near the entrance of the family stand, intently weaving the seat of a chair.

Salam Khalife agreed that it is becoming increasingly important to revive Lebanese heritage. As a member of the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association, she helps lead hikers along a trail that runs from the country’s northernmost reaches to Nabatieh in the south. “This is a path that our ancestors used to travel,” Khalife said, speaking over the sound of an oud projected from a nearby stage. “It’s our history, it’s a collective memory.”

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The artisanal work of attracting tourists