Jordan Times
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Queen joins students in
promoting Jordan, welcoming overland visitors
JABER CROSSING — Her Majesty Queen Rania joined Hashemite University students in
promoting Jordan and welcoming arrivals to the Kingdom at the Jaber crossing on
Wednesday.
During a tour of the border crossing with Syria yesterday, to take a firsthand
look at the facilities and services offered at the checkpoint, Queen Rania
launched a programme of coordination between the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) and
the Hashemite University.
Under an agreement signed between the university and the JTB last week, 40
students from the Queen Rania Institute for Tourism and Cultural Heritage, have
been assigned to assist visitors coming overland to the country.
The students, half of them assigned at Al Emari entry point on the border with
Saudi Arabia, were trained to answer tourist inquiries and hand out brochures
about cultural activities and historical sites in the Kingdom.
At the crossing, Queen Rania met with several visitors, border staff and
officials, and enquired about the procedures.
During a meeting with the students, attended by several senior officials, the
Queen commended the efforts of all those concerned in promoting Jordan, noting
that what has been achieved thus far reflects the true Jordanian spirit of
generosity and hospitality.
She added that such an initiative is important as it enhances students'
practical experiences, reflecting realities on the ground, alongside their
academic experiences.
Addressing the students, the Queen said: “You reflect the spirit of Jordan
marked by hospitality, generosity and a warm welcome for the visitors.”
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Alia Hattough-Bouran underlined the
importance of the programme, which is designed not only to acquaint visitors
with the Kingdom's tourism sites but also with other facilities such as hotels
and restaurants.
She said the Tourism Ministry had already taken the necessary measures to
facilitate visa procedures at entry points with the concerned authorities and
expects a large number of tourists this year.
During the summer, the Kingdom is a major destination for Gulf and Arab tourists
who come here to escape the sweltering heat in their own countries. Around
850,000 visitors from the Gulf countries travelled to Jordan last year.
Observers in the industry expect their numbers to rise this year as unstable
conditions in neighbouring countries are expected to divert many tourists to the
Kingdom.
JTB Managing Director Mazen Hmoud said the initiative was part of the JTB's
strategy for the summer, which started with coordination between tourism
agencies in Jordan and their counterparts in the Gulf countries.
This was followed by a media campaign in the Gulf states showcasing the
Kingdom's tourism sites.
Announcing new measure taken to encourage tourists, Hmoud said visitors'
purchases from the Kingdom would be exempted from Sales Tax.
Sultan Maani, dean of the Queen Rania Institute, said the students are trained
on all tourism-related subjects and receive a bachelors degree when they
graduate.
Dressed in uniforms provided by the JTB, the students are paid a monthly stipend
and work under the direction of a supervisor.
Omar Qaqish, one of the students assigned at the Jaber crossing, told The Jordan
Times that most of the tourists he met were not aware of the diverse cultural
activities and historical sites available in the Kingdom. “They think the only
thing we have is the Jerash Festival,” he said.
“But we tell them about the different religious and therapeutic tourist sites
like the Dead Sea, Maain, Mount Nebo and the Baptism Site, among others,” he
added.