Cyrene, Libya: An ambitious project to turn the ancient city of Cyrene, in Libya, into a centre for eco-tourism was announced on Monday by Saif Al Islam Gaddafi, the second eldest of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's seven sons.
Saif, 33, who is emerging as a political power and has been tipped to take over from his father, said the plan was for 20 luxury hotels and thousands of new houses around the archaeological ruins on the north-east coast.
Thin, clean-shaven and bookish, he spoke haltingly from a pre-written speech, emphasising the dangers of climate change and desertification and vaguely outlining a project which aims to put Libya firmly on the tourist trail.
Enormous roadside hoardings reminded the invited guests that it has now been 38 years since Colonel Gaddafi assumed the role of Libya's 'Brotherly Leader and Guide' after a bloodless coup.
Funds
The initial stages of the new project will cost £1.5 billion (about Dh3.9 billion) of government money, as well as another £700 million from Hassan Tatanaki, a billionaire friend of the younger Gaddafi who made his fortune from renting out oil rigs.
The aim is to make the area ecologically friendly, to provide jobs to the unskilled and uneducated local population, and to excavate more of the area, one of the most important and untouched Greek sites. Attractions include the Temple of Apollo and and the partly unexcavated Temple of Zeus.
The entire project was designed by Sir Norman Foster, a leading British architect, in just seven weeks.
Tatanaki said he aimed to have around three million visitors within three to five years.
"I have seen Morocco and Tunisia, and to be honest, Libya is much more beautiful, and completely unspoilt. Where else can you wander through ruins among the trees?" he said.
Stefaan Poortman, of the Global Heritage Fund, said: "There is a whole different class of tourists that is very curious about Libya. We have had a lot of inquiries already. These tourists want somewhere off the beaten track, somewhere different."
If the project is successful, it will help cement the reputation of Saif Gaddafi.
Although there is no indication that Colonel Gaddafi is close to relinquishing power, Saif has emerged in the last few years in an active role by his father's side. He was the key negotiator in the release in July of six Bulgarian nurses who were charged with infecting children with the HIV virus.
"He is eclectic and open to new ideas," said a diplomatic source. Saif Gaddafi heads the Red Crescent, the Libya Youth Movement, and the Gaddafi Development Fund.
