Dr. Jad Abou Arraj
Summary:
Dr. Jad Abou Arrage is a distinguished academic and development expert with a career spanning over 20 years in sustainable development. A trusted advisor to global organizations like UNDP, USAID, and UN Tourism, he has shaped transformative initiatives across Lebanon and the Middle East, with a focus on tourism development, sustainable landscape management, agricultural value chains, natural resources management, and environmental economics.As a professor, Dr. Abou Arrage has enriched the academic landscape at leading universities in Lebanon, including the Lebanese University, the American University of Beirut, and the University of Balamand. He is a seasoned educator, offering a wide array of courses in ecotourism, sustainable tourism, environmental economics, disaster risk reduction, and project management. His consultancy achievements include crafting tourism strategies, developing management and financial plans for nature reserves, performing socio-economic and value chain analyses, and building stakeholder capacities. He excels in integrating technical expertise with a deep understanding of local communities and ecosystems to drive sustainable outcomes. Fluent in Arabic, English, and French, with conversational Italian, Dr. Abou Arrage is highly adaptable in multicultural settings. His work reflects a profound commitment to community empowerment, environmental preservation, and the promotion of cultural heritage.
Relevant Experience:
Academic Experience
- Over a decade of lecturing on subjects like ecotourism, alternative tourism, sustainable landscape management, and tourism project management across institutions including Lebanese University, American University of Beirut, and Antonine University.
- Curriculum Development and Specialized Courses: Designed and taught courses on tourism and sustainability, contemporary issues in tourism, and project management tailored for tourism sectors.
Consultancies
- UN Tourism: Served as a mentor for the Best Tourism Village Label, prepared online courses, and delivered executive training for tourism ministries in the Gulf and Arab Region in rural tourism strategy and product development.
- Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA): Led tourism-related initiatives, including trail development, legal frameworks for hiking trails, business planning for rural tourism, and social-economic studies of the trail’s impact.
- Development of Protected Areas: Drafted management plans for protected areas and nature reserves in Lebanon, emphasizing ecotourism, thematic trails, and sustainable tourism clusters.
- National and Regional Strategies: Contributed to sustainable tourism strategies for various organizations, including USAID-funded projects, UNDP, and the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism, focusing on rural tourism value chains, geotrails, and destination management organizations.
- Tourism Cluster Development: Coordinated the creation of regional tourism clusters, experiential tourism products, and immersive activities in Lebanon under USAID-funded projects.
Professional Experience
- Project Management in Tourism: Managed multiple tourism-focused projects, including sustainable tourism activations in Saudi Arabia.
- Capacity Building and Training: Delivered training to local guides, guesthouse owners, and rural tourism service providers on marketing, customer relations, and product development.
- Tourism Infrastructure and Promotion: Developed business plans and promotional strategies for rural tourism projects, guesthouses, and eco-tourism initiatives.
Key Contributions
- Pioneered efforts to integrate sustainable tourism practices into regional development plans and protected area management.
- Developed practical toolkits, online courses, and training programs for sustainable rural tourism.
- Conducted socioeconomic assessments and feasibility studies to support the growth of ecotourism and cultural tourism across diverse regions.
Academic Credentials:
- Ph.D. in Technological Innovation for Food and Environmental Sciences from the University of Milan.
- Master’s degree in Development, Environment, and Societies from Belgian institutions.
Professional Qualifications:
Academic Excellence: As a lecturer and professor at renowned institutions including the American University of Beirut, Antonine University, and the Lebanese University, I have designed and delivered interdisciplinary courses ranging from Environmental Economics and Tourism Sustainability to Disaster Risk Reduction and Ecotourism. My teaching reflects a commitment to fostering critical thinking and practical application among students.
Consultancy Expertise: My consultancy work spans global organizations such as the UNWTO, UNDP, UNESCO, USAID-funded projects, and leading NGOs. I have contributed to:
- Drafting sustainable tourism strategies and regulatory frameworks.
- Leading capacity-building programs for rural communities, protected areas, and local governments.
- Designing innovative products and experiences, such as thematic tourism routes and geotrails.
Project Leadership: I have successfully led projects across Lebanon, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, focusing on value chain development, rural tourism, and sustainable livelihoods. My roles often require multi-stakeholder coordination, policy development, and comprehensive training programs, ensuring measurable impacts on community resilience and economic empowerment.
Strategic Vision and Research: I have been a driving force in creating long-term financial strategies, management plans for protected areas, and tourism development plans for local and national entities. This includes my recent work on a national sustainable mountain tourism strategy for Lebanon.
Collaborative Leadership: Throughout my career, I have collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to bridge the gaps between environmental stewardship, community development, and tourism. My ability to integrate scientific research, policy insights, and community perspectives has been instrumental in delivering sustainable and scalable solutions.
Education and Commitment: Holding advanced degrees in agriculture, environment, and sustainable development, I continue to invest in lifelong learning and contribute to knowledge-sharing forums regionally and internationally. My dedication to empowering local communities, conserving cultural and natural heritage, and advancing sustainable tourism underpins my professional ethos.