AMMAN — Representatives of the U.S.
Embassy, United Airlines and Jordan’s transport and tourism sectors celebrated
the launch of non-stop flights between Amman and the
Washington DC launched last
weekend, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said.
اضافة اعلان
U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires
Mike Hankey told the
gathering that the 12-hour direct flights will increase bilateral tourism,
economic activity, and business connections, according to Petra.
U.S. companies already invest more than $156 million
annually in Jordan, Petra said. Total bilateral trade is estimated at $4
billion each year, which is expected to increase with the direct route, Hankey
said, according to Petra.
“The
United States and Jordan enjoy a longstanding
partnership, and this route connecting our capitals is an important symbol of
our relationship,” Hankey said. He said the new route will ‘’strengthen our
deep ties and contribute to shared economic opportunity’’.
As for tourism, the new flights make it easier for
more Americans to visit the Nabatean heritage site of Petra, a city carved in
rose-red stone and one of the world’s Seven Wonders, the Dead Sea, the lowest
point on earth, and other tourist destinations.
The new route
builds on the free trade agreement (FTA) between Jordan and the US, one of 20
agreements in the world enabling duty-free access to the
US market. “The FTA is
an enduring symbol of the close and continuing friendship between our
countries,” Hankey said.
Hankey maintained that the connection between the
two capitals will consolidate Jordan’s position as a regional gateway,
considering its geographic location at a crossroads in the Middle East.
For his part, Emad al-Hijazeen, secretary-general of
the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, said the new route contributes to
strengthening tourism, economic and social relations between the two countries,
and brings the people of both countries closer culturally.
Hijazeen noted that there are 6 sites on the
UNESCO World
Heritage List, including Petra, the Baptismal site, Qasr Umrah, Umm al-Rasas,
Wadi Rum and, finally, Salt; “the city of tolerance and urban hospitality”.
Read more Business
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
