Ski and Swim the Same Day, an event held March 19 co-sponsored by the Laqlouq ski resort and MARCH, a nongovernmental organization, invited the adventurous for some skiing in the morning and then a trip to the beach at Batroun, in northern Lebanon. It is only one of the many types of activities offered by ski resorts as well as the Lebanese Ski Federation (FLS) to attract locals and tourists to Lebanon's slopes. Lebanon's ski season is expected to close at the end of this month, but other activities continue year-round at ski resorts.

“All the ski resorts had to develop extra activities to attract people during the rest of the year, because when spring comes, people only think about going to the beach,” Freddy Kairouz, FLS general secretary told Al-Monitor. “At FLS, we focus on bringing athletes from all over the world to participate in international competition for skiing, snowboarding and cross-country, but also to enjoy the nightlife, visit Lebanon and of course taste the food.”

Kairouz has developed activities to attract people who are not particularly into skiing, such as Alaska Night, a party in the snow last held March 18 in the Bsharri ski resort that included igloos for the children. Kairouz is also the mayor of Bsharri, a northern village where Lebanon's first school for skiing was established in the 1930s by the French army at the Cedars, which today, along with the resort there, is managed by the municipality.

Skiing in Lebanon rose in popularity in the 1950s, when the first ski lift was installed at the Cedars, and in the 1960s, with the opening of the Mzaar ski resort. Snow-related recreation came to a halt during the civil war (1975-1990) because the resorts closed, but the facilities have since developed and upgraded their equipment to offer optimal service to skiers.