A Long-Term Vision for Amchit Begins with Its Identity

Every family's story begins somewhere. For the Issa family, it begins in Amchit. Rooted in this enduring connection, the Michel Issa Foundation for Local Development (MIF) is investing in a long-term vision that preserves the town's identity, strengthens its community, and creates new opportunities for generations to come.

Under the patronage and in the presence of H.E. Minister of Tourism Laura El Khazen Lahoud, MIF signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Municipality of Amchit to launch the Amchit Tourism and Culture Development Strategy 2026–2030, a milestone that reflects the Foundation's belief that the future of a community is built by understanding and celebrating what makes it unique.

Developed by MIF following extensive research and close collaboration with local stakeholders, the strategy is founded on a simple yet enduring principle: meaningful development does not begin by creating a new identity, but by revealing the strength of the one that already exists. Amchit's architecture, history, traditions, landscape and cultural memory are therefore viewed not simply as elements to preserve, but as enduring assets capable of inspiring education, attracting investment, enriching community life and supporting sustainable economic growth.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Toni M. Issa, Chairman of the Michel Issa Foundation for Local Development, reaffirmed that the Foundation's ambition extends well beyond tourism. He emphasized that every initiative undertaken by MIF is intended to create practical, measurable progress while reinforcing the identity that has shaped Amchit for generations.

This vision is already taking shape through an integrated portfolio of initiatives that will preserve heritage, celebrate local culture and transform historic spaces into places of learning, dialogue and community life. It also includes the creation of a museum dedicated to preserving Amchit's memory and heritage, alongside new cultural experiences, digital heritage initiatives and strategic partnerships with universities and national institutions. Together, these projects form a connected roadmap designed to ensure that heritage is not simply remembered, but experienced, shared and carried forward by future generations.

Beyond the projects themselves, the strategy establishes a new model of collaboration that brings together public institutions, academia, civil society and the private sector around a shared commitment to Amchit's future. It reflects MIF's conviction that sustainable local development is achieved when communities, institutions and responsible partners work together around a common vision. For the Issa family, investing in Amchit has always been about more than preserving the past. It is about protecting the values, identity and sense of belonging that define a community, while creating the conditions for future generations to thrive.

Through the Michel Issa Foundation for Local Development, that vision continues to take shape, demonstrating how heritage, when combined with long-term thinking and responsible leadership, can become one of the strongest foundations for enduring development.