AMMAN — The
Red-Sea resort city of Aqaba is witnessing an
"active" visitor movement from different countries, which is expected
to increase in momentum, especially with the scheduled arrival of 34 cruise
ships during the current winter season, the Jordan News Agency, Petra,
reported. The vessels are carrying more than 45,000 tourists, most from European
nations.
اضافة اعلان
In a statement on Sunday, the
Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA)
Commissioner for Environment and Tourism Nidal Al-Majali said Jordan's Golden
Triangle of Aqaba, Petra, and Wadi Rum, which is home to the country's famous
archaeological and natural wonders, enhances the Kingdom's tourism income by 14
percent.
Majali noted that the number of visitors is "constantly increasing,"
as about 1.3 million tourists entered Aqaba during the current tourist season
from various border crossings. He pointed out that about 700,000 hotel check-ins
were recorded with an average stay of 2.2 days.
The ASEZA official added that the numbers are rising "continuously,"
after the increase in the number of tourist ship trips and low-cost flights to
Aqaba.
The number of visitors arriving to Aqaba in 2022 and the coming years will
exceed the figures recorded in 2019, as Aqaba hotels saw a "high"
rate of reservations, at nearly 90 percent, he maintained.
Majali said Aqaba was not "completely" affected by the COVID-19
pandemic, as tourism did not stop during the crisis period, adding that Aqaba
is a green city that successfully controlled the disease by applying the
"highest" standards of public safety.
Building the tourism future in Aqaba is achieved within a
"participatory" action with all concerned parties to market the
tourist product in all its aspects, he noted.
ASEZA is working to create a "distinguished" infrastructure to
receive tourists and enhance this policy by participating in international
travel and diving exhibitions, since diving is an attractive and
tourism-producing sport, Majali said.
Aqaba, he said, contains a diversity of marine life, and houses the largest
coral reef in the northern hemisphere, which is an attraction for tourists from
across the world.
Regarding services, privileges and facilitations offered to the Jordanian tourist,
Majali said supply and demand equation sets the competition prices for hotel
rooms and apartments in Aqaba, pointing to the need to establish new hotel
rooms in Aqaba to launch exhibition and tourism programs.
As for foreign tourists' needs and expectations, he said world tourism and
travel agents need to have a large number of rooms suitable for visitors, as
well as diversity of price opportunities to accommodate the huge demand in this
regard.
In addition, he referred to the diversity in providing hotel services in Aqaba,
adding that all options are available for local tourists at affordable prices.
Arab tourism to Aqaba has increased at "high" rates, as about 240,
000 Arab visitors entered the port city, which means it is witnessing a
"large" turnout of tourists, whether Jordanians or foreigners seeking
accommodation with high-level hospitality services, he said.
Read more National news
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
