jordan pulse -
Director of Operations of the “Our Jordan is Paradise” program at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Al-Rifai, said that the program achieved record numbers compared to last year. The number of participants in the program since the beginning of this year has reached 55,400 participants.
Al-Rifai added that the number of participants since the beginning of this year has exceeded double the numbers achieved by the program in the same period last year, which reached 20,500 participants.
He explained that the number of tourist transport buses that transported citizens to the tourist destinations provided by the program from various governorates of the Kingdom amounted to 1,400 buses, accompanied by 1,400 tourist guides.
He pointed out that the goal of the program is to stimulate domestic tourism in Jordan, as it contributed to reducing the losses incurred by the tourism sector as a result of the Corona pandemic and helping it recover. By involving tourist offices in organizing and implementing trips, tourist transportation, tourism guides, and many tourist facilities such as restaurants and camps.
Al-Rifai added that “Our Jordan is Paradise” was launched strongly, and is being constantly monitored by the Ministry’s teams and the Tourism Promotion Authority, explaining that the program was the main driver of the tourism sector in light of the Corona pandemic, as the program proved its ability to sustain and sustain the tourism movement, preserve the workforce in the sector, and maintain continuity. The work of tourist facilities, especially since the tourism sector was one of the first sectors to return to rapid work.
Al-Rifai pointed out some changes in the mechanism of the program’s work, as new visions for the program were developed in accordance with the activity of domestic tourism movement, indicating that the new vision aims to empower. Local communities, supporting the tourism sector, and stimulating domestic tourism movement in light of the current circumstances in the region.
He stated that many tourist destinations will be added in addition to the main tourist destinations provided by the program, pointing out that, within the new vision of the program, work will be done in cooperation with the Ministry of Education to add a program for school trips, so that they are linked to precise standards that determine the place that should be visited, its privacy and its importance. And the extent of its connection to the academic curriculum and the cognitive context that expands the student’s awareness and makes him aware of the archaeological, touristic, or developmental value of this place.
Al-Rifai confirmed that work will be carried out, in cooperation with companies, tourism and travel offices, and owners of tourist restaurants, to add a group program for domestic tourism, noting that the “Our Jordan is Paradise” program also seeks to introduce visitors to tourist and archaeological areas, different cultures, customs and traditions in the governorates of the Kingdom.
He said that the cost of one-day trips in the program is 10 dinars per person, including lunch and drinks, pointing out that children under 4 years old are free to accompany.
He explained that the Ministry seeks, through the program, to empower local communities by training and qualifying them so that these communities are ready to receive participants and visitors. Many experiments have also been added to the program to transfer the culture, customs and traditions of each governorate, such as studying an experiment in Karak Governorate whose idea lies in manufacturing the Karaki jameed experience and allowing the visitor Live the experience of preparing the Karaki Mansaf dish.
The possibility of including a library in Madaba is now being studied to be a creative space for dialogue and culture and to launch pioneering initiatives that serve the trends and ideas of young people, and provide a social cultural place for young people from the local community and visitors to Madaba within an environment that encourages a culture of reading. The library includes a large collection of used, old, rare and new books for various topics. Ages.
In Ma'an Governorate, the “Palace of the Founding King” will be added to be a comprehensive national museum that highlights an important historical stage starting from the launch of the Great Arab Revolt to the establishment of the Jordanian state, and work is continuing in the rest of the governorates of the Kingdom to add qualitative experiences that enhance the paths in the program.
Al-Rifai indicated that a phone number (064603366) has been allocated to receive all complaints and suggestions from participants, which include adding new tourist destinations within the program plan.
Petra