Jordan Times
Thursday, September 15, 2005
New sea link opens
between Aqaba and Taba
By Dalya Dajani
AMMAN — A group of French, German and British tourists vacationing in Taba docked in the southern port city of Aqaba on Wednesday as the new maritime route between the two resorts opened.
The new link, operated by the Arab Bridge
Maritime Company (ABMC), is the second such route to be launched following a
similar link between Aqaba and Sharm El Sheikh.
ABMC acting Director General Hussein Soub said the tourists would visit Aqaba
and nearby popular sites such as Wadi Rum and Petra.
They arrived aboard one of the company's vessels which is set to operate two to
three weekly trips between the two resorts, he added.
Jordan and Egypt opened the first tourism maritime route between their countries
in June 2003, linking Aqaba and Sharm El Sheikh.
The two countries are also considering expanding such links to connect Aqaba
with other Egyptian resorts such as Ghardaqa and Safaja.
As for the new Taba- Aqaba route, Soub said the company plans to cooperate with
tour and travel agencies to place the route on their list of tourist packages.