AMMAN, 1 July 2004 — Jordan aims to attract a total of 12 million visitors between now and 2010 as part of a national strategy to bolster the tourism industry, and is seeking private sector involvement as well, officials said in statements published yesterday. The National Tourism Strategy also projects that the increase of tourist arrivals in Jordan over the next six years will generate $6.5 billion in receipts and generate 51,000 new jobs, Tourism Minister Alia Buran said.
As part of the new strategy the Tourism Ministry will set up a special committee, comprising experts from the tourist board and the department of antiquities, to market Jordan abroad and develop sites in the country.
Around two million tourists are expected to visit the kingdom this year, compared to 1.6 million visitors last year, Buran was quoted as saying in the Jordanian press. Tourism is Jordan’s second source of foreign currency after remittances from Jordanians working abroad.
Last year it earned $800 million from tourism. Jordan has been striving hard to shake off a slump in visitors, which followed the outbreak of the Palestinian intifada against Israeli rule in September 2000, the 2001 Sept. 11 attacks on the United States and last year’s war on Iraq. These developments triggered massive cancellations in tourist arrivals in Jordan.
Jordan is home to dozens of tourist destinations, including the famed Nabatean archeological site of Petra, with its imposing tombs sculpted into red-rose rocks, the Roman temples of Jerash, the Wadi Rum desert and the Dead Sea.
New Envoy to Iraq
Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Moasher said yesterday that his country will name a new ambassador to Iraq in an effort to bolster the return of sovereignty to its eastern neighbor. “Jordan has taken the decision to name an ambassador to Iraq,” Moasher told the official Petra news agency.
“This decision stems from Jordan’s strong belief on the need to stand alongside our brothers in Iraq during this important and transitional period and in a bid to bolster Iraq’s sovereignty,” Moasher said.
Jordan welcomed the transfer of power from the US-led coalition forces to the Iraqi government on Monday and said it was ready to help with all its capacities.
Truck Driver Shot Dead
A Jordanian truck driver was shot dead by highway robbers in Iraq this week, relatives of the man told Al Rai and Al Dustour newspapers yesterday. Samir Nawfal, 50, was heading back home to Jordan after delivering a load of fruit and vegetable to Iraqi markets when his truck was intercepted by armed men, the reports said.
