Jordan Times
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Summit to address
challenges facing industry
By Dalya Dajani
AMMAN — Tourism, aviation and security experts
from across the region will gather in the Kingdom this month to discuss some of
the key challenges facing the development of the travel industry.
The Middle East Travel and Tourism Summit (METTS), taking place on the shores of
the Dead Sea, will present perspectives from private and public sector tourism
organisations, real estate developers and aviation specialists in the field.
The two-day METTS is considered an important platform to update on major tourism
projects and foreign investment in the region, as well as presenting
opportunities for networking.
Some of the leading tourism and hospitality property developers in the Gulf
states will discuss hotel trends and the challenges in competing for and
attracting foreign investment.
Key speakers include the managing director of Ayla Oasis Development
Corporation, which is creating a huge waterfront development project in Aqaba; a
senior representative from property developer Nakheel, which created several
world-class tourism projects in Dubai; and Orascom Hotels and Development
Chairman Samih Sawaris from Egypt.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Munir Nassar will give a presentation on the
latest developments in the Kingdom's tourism industry.
Vice Chairman and CEO of Saraya Jordan Ali Kolaghassi, who is currently
developing a major beachfront project in Aqaba, will also give a presentation on
the investment potential in Jordan.
Other items on the agenda include perspectives from leading real estate
developers from Dubai, Qatar and Abu Dhabi on development projects in the region
and their impact on tourism growth.
The summit will also provide a crucial segment on security challenges in the
region and the looming threat of terrorist attacks.
Attacks on tourists and tourism resorts in the region over the past few years
have raised new concerns. Turkey, Egypt and Jordan all suffered terrorist
attacks in 2005.
The threat and impact of such attacks is considered one of the most pressing
challenges facing the industry.
Presentations on managing security in the tourism sector, incident case studies
and lessons learned on the subject will be given by experts in the field
including a senior representative from a security company, a regional hotel
group and an official from VisitBritain.
In addition, METTS will tackle human resource and infrastructure development,
including improving service delivery through investment and training.
Representatives from educational and training institutes in the UK will give
presentations on customer relations management and the application of new
technology in providing quality services.
Discussions will also focus on the emergence of Arab tourism markets and the
financial risks and opportunities involved, particularly for conflict-ridden
countries such as the occupied Palestinian territories and Iraq.
Key panellists for this session will include representatives from Libya, Sudan,
Iraq and Palestine, including Abdullah Denka, director of the General
Establishment for Tourism, Kurdistan Regional Development.
The summit will take place on Feb. 26-27.