Aqaba — Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority Commissioner for Tourism and Youth Affairs Thabet Al-Nabulsi said Friday that plans are underway to organize activities as part of an integrated hot-air balloon festival program in Wadi Rum.
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Al-Nabulsi said such events attract adventure tourists and visitors from neighboring countries and the Gulf, stressing that the sport would add value to adventure and sports tourism and help attract more tourists, according to Al-Mamlaka.
He said the program links the promotion of Wadi Rum and Aqaba to highlight the destinations’ tourism attractions and environmental and sporting diversity between the desert and the sea. Aqaba, he added, has a year-round calendar packed with local, Arab and international activities through the “Visit Aqaba” and “Aqaba Calendar” platforms.
The event aligns with the Economic Modernization Vision and efforts to strengthen cooperation with the private sector, with the aim of expanding air sports and developing tourism products in Wadi Rum.
For the first time, the event features parachute jumps from hot-air balloons involving professional athletes and adventure enthusiasts from several countries, including Brazil. Hot-air balloon flights are also being operated through Jordanian and regional partnerships, he said, noting that these activities offer a unique tourism product showcasing Wadi Rum’s natural attractions and distinctive terrain.
An international event featuring BASE-style free-fall parachuting from hot-air balloons and other air sports began in Wadi Rum, bringing together around 16 professionals, paramotor pilots, photographers and technical and logistical support teams from European countries. The event runs through October 10.
The program also includes a visit by participants to Aqaba to introduce them to the city’s tourism attractions, explore opportunities to develop tourism products and strengthen integration between Aqaba and Wadi Rum.
The Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan Tourism Board and Royal Film Commission, along with the organizing bodies, supported the event.
