Nov. 19--BEIRUT -- The Tourism Ministry and Global Distribution System launched on Tuesday a new online trade and directory services portal, Bab-ilu, and announced plans to introduce an online virtual tourism and trade center. "The center will help promote various Lebanese cities, villages, and communities within the country and abroad promoting Lebanon to millions of people worldwide," the ministry said in a statement.

"We are very excited at the prospect of extending our reach to millions of tourists who wish to visit Lebanon in person or virtually on the Web," Lebanese Tourism Minister Elie Marouni said.

"The Bab-ilu portal provides an engine for us to help promote our rich history, culture, places of interest as well as goods and services offered by Lebanese entrepreneurs to the world at large," he added.

Bab-ilu is a gateway for thousands of Lebanese merchants to extend the trade of their products and services to businesses and consumers globally.

"Bab-ilu and its staff are looking forward to launching the Virtual Lebanese Tourism and Trade Center," said Elie Ghanem, general manager of Global Distribution System.

"To expedite the launch, we partnered with eSharing Corporation, a well established local information technology services firm in Beirut, to provide our registered users with value-added services such as technical support, site administration, marketing communications, and design services."

Bab-ilu is an online trade and directory services portal that enables its members worldwide to sell and purchase products and services from local and regional merchants. -- The Daily Star

For more information, visit the Bab-ilu Web site at www.bab.ilu.com

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