On Saturday, Libya was elected as a Board Member of Trustees of the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF), also known as Hostelling International.
The IYHF is one of the largest youth organisations in the world and operates under the umbrella of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The IYHF is spread across 74 countries around the world and includes more than 4,000 homes around the world, which is considered the second largest international youth organisation of the United Nations (UN).
This is the first time since 1952 that the Libyan youth diplomacy has won membership to the International Board of Trustees of Youth Hostels.
This also comes in light of the current renaissance plan of developing and rehabilitating dozens of Libyan youth hostel facilities.
Notably, the Libyan delegation headed by the Minister of Youth, Fathallah Al-Zani, participated in the five-day 54th International Youth Hostel Federation Conference, which began in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Friday.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Head of the IYHF, Stephan Kurmann, Secretary-General of Arab Federation of Youth Hostel, Ashraf Ali Othman, and a host of youth hostels leaders worldwide.
The event coincided with the inauguration of the new Qatar Youth Hostels (QYH) in the Al Sadd area by the Minister of Sports and Youth, Salah bin Ghanim Al Ali. The conference also coincided with the celebration that marks the 90th anniversary of the federation’s inception which was founded in 1932 to unify youth hostels around the whole world.
The IYHF is one of the earliest examples of sustainable tourism by encouraging a greater knowledge, love, and care of the countryside and an appreciation of the social and cultural values in all parts of the world.
Hostelling International is dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism practices among its members and national associations, and is committed to achieving a worldwide network of sustainable organisations and hostels.