AMMAN — Jordan on Tuesday communicated
to Syria its keenness to reopen
Jaber Border Crossing at full capacity.
اضافة اعلان
Meanwhile, the Aqaba Special Economic Zone
Authority on Tuesday announced that the southern Wadi Araba Crossing will go
fully operational as of August 1st.
According to a government statement, Interior
Minister Mazen Farraya made a phone call Tuesday to his Syrian counterpart,
Mohammad Khalid Al-Rahmoun, “and stressed the need to re-operate the center at
full capacity, due to the strategic importance of Jaber crossing and the
benefits both Jordan and Syrian can reap.”
The statement said that Farraya acted upon
instructions by Prime Minister
Bisher Al-Khasawneh, who visited the facility
earlier this month.
The Syrian minister “welcomed the suggestion to
reopen the center … vowing his country’s willingness to take all the necessary
arrangements towards that end”.
The two sides, the statement added, agreed to
open the door for field coordination between the officials manning the facility
on both sides, including the health protocol that should be followed.
In a statement by the Aqaba authority, the crossing
has witnessed an active tourist movement since its reopening in July, with 500
passengers crossing into the Kingdom daily, while conforming to the health
protocols.
During Eid Al-Adha, the number of tourists increased
to reach to 5,000. The holidays also contributed to reviving the commercial
movement in the city of Aqaba.
The International Health Regulations Liaison
Officer for Aqaba Governorate Mohammed Al Muheisin told
Jordan News that the
protocols which are set for the tourists’ entry to Aqaba through Wadi Araba
crossing included a certificate of COVID-19 vaccine: two doses or one dose
taken 21 days before the entry at least, with a negative PCR test taken 72
hours before arrival.
Muheisin indicated the PCR test will cost JD28
per tourist, and the result will be out within two or three hours.
He also pointed out that if the tourists stay in
the city lasts for less than 72 hours, they can leave without undergoing the
PCR test again.
For his part, President of Aqaba Hotels
Association Salah Al-Bitar said in remarks to Jordan News that opening the Wadi
Araba operation in full capacity will have a positive impact on the tourism
sector; especially in receiving Palestinian people and foreign tourists coming
from Palestine. He also pointed out that Aqaba is a popular destination for Palestinians
from both the West Bank and 1948 lands.
Bitar added that the positive impact on the
tourism and commercial sector will be significant as long as the number of tourists
who are allowed to enter through the crossing is not specified.
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