Jordan Times
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Kingdom's historical
sites promoted at Moscow exhibition
The number of Russian tourists visiting Jordan more than doubled
between 2002 and 2004,
rising from 4,909 visitors in 2002 to 9,284 in 2003 and 9,919 in 2004
By Dalya Dajani
AMMAN — A group of leading tourism sector representatives completed a four-day
trip to Russia, where they worked to bolster ties with global counterparts in
the tourism industry.
The delegation, consisting of the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB), eight Jordanian
tour operators and representatives from three major hotels, joined more than
2,500 tour and travel companies at Moscow's 12th International Travel and
Tourism Exhibition (MITT), held between March 23-26.
The representatives used the MITT as a forum to promote the Kingdom's historical
sites while exploring partnerships with other tourism markets. As part of its
efforts, the JTB hosted a dinner for around 70 new Russian tour operators and
the media during the exhibition.
Ongoing efforts to promote the Kingdom's tourist attractions on a global level
are considered especially important now that the tourism and travel industry is
rebounding.
Increased interest from European and American travelers, many of whom have shied
away from the Middle East, presents a positive forecast. Recent official tourism
figures indicate that visitors from the United States and Europe increased by
25.2 per cent and 13.5 per cent respectively in 2004 compared to the previous
year.
The increase in tourists arriving on packaged tours shot up by 74 per cent for
that same period.
Seeking visitors worldwide, the Kingdom's tourism industry aims to remain a
popular destination for Russian travellers. According to JTB Managing Director
Mazen Hmoud, the number of Russian tourists visiting Jordan more than doubled
between 2002 and 2004, rising from 4,909 visitors in 2002 to 9,284 in 2003 and
9,919 in 2004.
Hoping to tap this growing demand from the Russian market, the Kingdom last year
signed several agreements with Russia to encourage tourism. The two countries
planned increased cooperation in tourism services and the JTB opened a branch
office in the Russian Federation to promote Jordan as a travel destination. In
December, an agreement was forged whereby weekly-chartered flights would be
operated between Russia and Aqaba.
Last September, the government announced that Russian tourists would no longer
need an advance visa but would be issued one upon arrival in Jordan. The Tourism
Ministry said it had developed a website in Russian and that increased funds in
the 2005 budget would be allocated to marketing the Kingdom's tourist
attractions to Russians.
Late last year, Jordan benefited as an alternative holiday destination when many
Russian travellers were forced to change their original travel plans to
tsunami-struck holiday resorts. Press secretary of the Russian union of the
tourist industry, Irina Tyurina, was quoted in Russia's state-owned Pravda
newspaper in January as saying that some tourists had chosen to fly to Bali
instead, while others vacationed in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan.
“A lot of Russian tourists left for Aqaba, Jordan — the first charter flight to
the resort city was organised very quickly,” Tyurina said.