A report by the Tourism Information and Documentation Center revealed that 974 foreign tourists from 54 countries visited Libya during the first quarter of this year, out of more than 121,000 visitors who flocked to cities and archaeological sites.

These figures are an indication of the recovery of tourism activity in Libya, despite the ongoing challenges facing the sector, as tourist numbers increased by 41% compared to the same period last year.

Which nationalities visit Libya the most?

Chinese tourists ranked first, followed by Italians, among tourist nationalities, reflecting the broadening base of international markets interested in Libya as a tourist destination.

Here is the list of countries from which tourists visited Libya, in order: China, Italy, the United States, Poland, Russia, Germany, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Spain, and finally Romania, according to a report by the Tourism Information and Documentation Center affiliated with the Ministry of Tourism.

However, the number of foreign tourists, which did not exceed 1,000, is likely to increase given Libya’s potential in terms of beaches and breathtaking natural scenery, as well as the presence of five sites classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the city of Great Leptis Magna, the city of Sabratha, the ruins of Shahat (Cyrene), the ancient city of Ghadames, and the Tadrat sites in the Akakus Mountains.

“Archaeological Shahhat” tops the list of visitor attractions

The report noted that the ancient city of Shahat topped the list of destinations attracting the most visitors during the first three months of the year, followed by the ancient city of Sabratha.

The number of tourist accommodation facilities reached 777, including hotels, hotel apartments, and tourist villages scattered throughout the country. These facilities welcomed more than 159,000 guests during the same period.

The capital, Tripoli, recorded the highest percentage of guests at hotels and tourist villages, followed by the Green Mountain and Benghazi regions.