The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) named Jbeil – Byblos as the best Arab tourist city in 2013, and felicitated its Mayor Ziad Al-Hawwat for the outstanding achievements he made and in recognition of his pioneering role in the development of the city.

Byblos is re-emerging as an upscale touristic hub. With its ancient port, Phoenician, Roman and Crusader ruins, sandy beaches and the picturesque mountains that surround it make it an ideal tourist destination. The city is known for its fish restaurants, open-air bars, and outdoor cafes. Yachts cruise into its harbor today like they did in the sixties and seventies when Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra were regular visitors to the city.
Today, Byblos (Jbeil) is a modern city. It remains one of Lebanon's biggest tourist attractions, mainly because of its rich history and scenic mountains overlooking the Mediterranean. Each year, the Byblos international festival, one of the biggest Lebanese festivals, attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world to the shores of Lebanon.

Byblos was chosen by Condé Nast Traveler as the second best city in the Middle East for 2012, beating Tel Aviv and Dubai.

A dinner banquet will be held in his honor on Saturday May 4 at Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai under the patronage of the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Dr. Taleb Rifai, and a number of Arab leaders and representatives of the diplomatic corps.