Jordan Times
Monday, April 30, 2007
JTB launches campaign to
attract Gulf visitors
By Mohammad Ghazal
AMMAN — With a view to boosting the number of Arab Gulf tourists to the Kingdom
this year, the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) launched a two-month promotional
campaign throughout the Gulf region on Sunday.
The campaign, which will run until July 1, is designed to introduce potential
visitors from the Gulf to Jordan’s increasing tourism attractions, JTB Deputy
Managing Director Fayez Khoury told The Jordan Times.
Preliminary figures released by the Ministry of Tourism last week showed that
some 1.388 million tourists visited the country between January and March,
compared to 1.1 million during the corresponding period of 2006.
A total of 6.57 million tourists visited the country last year, of whom 1.91
million were from Arab countries.
Utilising TV and satellite channels, magazines and other media outlets, the
campaign is targeting potential visitors from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Khoury said the campaign coincides with Jordan’s participation in the Arabian
Travel Market (ATM) opening in Dubai on May 1.
“Members of travel and tour agencies, hotels and the JTB will take part in the
ATM, where promotional material will be presented to visitors on tourist
attractions in Jordan. The participation will help in attracting more visitors,”
said the JTB official.
Khoury said a recent JTB decision, approved by the Cabinet, under which Arab
tourists visiting the Kingdom’s historical sites will pay the same entry fees as
local citizens, would help increase the number of Arab and Gulf national
visitors.
The decision will be applied between June 6 and September 30.
“The target is not only to boost the number of visitors, it is to familiarise
Gulf tourists with the country’s historical sites,” he said.
According to the Central Bank of Jordan, arrivals between January and March
increased revenues by 30 per cent to JD268.9 million, compared to JD188.23
during the same period of last year.
Last week, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Osama Dabbas said ongoing
marketing efforts abroad have been focused on attracting both regular travellers
as well as those on charter flights and cruises.
According to the minister, there is optimism that this summer will see an
increase in visitors, with hotels and tour and travel agencies already reporting
an increase in bookings in Aqaba, the Dead Sea and Petra.