IRBID — Stakeholders at the Jerash
Festival are optimistically preparing to resume their celebration this year.
The festival, paused due to
COVID-19, is typically an important summer source of economic stimulus and a
popular celebration of Jordan’s cultural heritage.
اضافة اعلان
Director General of the Jerash
Festival Administration Ayman Samawi told
Jordan News: "We started working
on the preparation after June 15th. This was a step by the government with the
aim of relieving and entertaining citizens, despite the current conditions
represented by the COVID-19 pandemic."
Despite the late start of
preparations for the festival, the Ministry of Culture, the Jerash Festival
Administration, and the Jerash Governorate are working hard to ensure its
success, within public safety standards. As the managing director, Tariq
Al-Momani, told
Jordan News, "The final decision is linked to the approval
of the prime minister and the development of the epidemiological situation as
well. And things may become clearer after the meeting between the concerned
parties next Thursday."
The measures that have been taken
are strict, according to Samawi. "The measures will be strict to ensure
the health of citizens and tourists is safeguarded. Entrances for visitors to
the stadium will observe the need for social distancing, as well as the
distribution of the seating places. Sanitizers and face masks will be available
in sufficient quantities for attendance.
This will be in cooperation with the
Epidemiology Committee and the Ministry of Health.”
“Our need to hold the festival (is
because of) many benefits, including reviving the cultural exchange we used to
have in previous years, in addition to the fact that the Jerash Festival is one
of the biggest promoters of tourism in Jordan, specifically for tourists from
the
Arab Gulf.”
“The long-term goal of the Ministry
of Culture is for the Jerash Festival to be a fully cultural festival, where
entry is free for most cultural performances,” Samawi went on. “As for this
year, we are seeking to reduce ticket prices, and there will be no increase in
prices as a result of the new procedures.” He also emphasized the “the aim of
encouraging Jordanian citizens first, and tourists second, to engage in various
cultural performances.”
The administrative organization of
the festival is not affiliated with any external organizing bodies, as Samawi
said. “The great organization and follow-up team of the Jerash Festival
administration is a team of experienced and skilled people in their field.
They
are also a large group of specialists in several aspects, including those
responsible for organizing performances; others are for promotion and media,
and some specialize in focusing on cultural exchange between many other Arab
and Western countries.”
Deputy Governor of Jerash Hamad
Al-Karazna insisted on clarifying that the arrangements for the Jerash Festival
are still on the drawing board, and during the meeting next Thursday, the
organizers will have more clear results regarding the procedures that should be
and the identification of responsibilities of each of the concerned parties.
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