When many developers went bust and growth slowed to a crawl in the late 1980s, the Phoenix economy collapsed. But Phoenix did not use that chance to wean itself from the drug, and growth has resumed faster than ever. It was like deliberately going back to cigarette smoking after having had to do without it for years due to lack of a supply. Lebanon, like Phoenix, needs to wean its economy from concrete and asphalt and put its valuable capital into more productive ventures. There are many other sectors that can keep on giving.
Agriculture produces a new crop every year, feeds the country, and cuts down on imports.
Tourism is a non-polluting, permanent industry that heavily depends on maintaining a clean, beautiful, green countryside.