Aqaba — The city of Aqaba concluded events for the twelfth edition of the "Jordanian International Golden Triangle Cultural and Tourism Festival 2026," with the participation of a select group of writers, poets, intellectuals, and media figures from Jordan and a number of Arab countries, amid affirmations of the importance of culture in boosting tourism and building bridges of communication between peoples.
اضافة اعلان
The festival was organized by the Oasis of Thought and Literature Association, under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, in cooperation with the Aqaba Ports Management and Operation Company. Its activities included poetry evenings, literary, intellectual, and artistic segments, alongside activities that showcased aspects of Jordanian heritage and culture.
Shawkat Al-Batoush, president of the "Oasis of Thought and Literature" Association, said that the festival combines cultural action with tourism promotion for the Kingdom, by moving its activities from Amman to the southern regions, within the sides of the Golden Triangle, which includes Aqaba, Petra, and Wadi Rum. He noted that the festival's program was designed to offer varied content bringing together poets, visual artists, and creatives, in addition to intellectual seminars, horse and camel shows, and other activities tied to culture and heritage.
Al-Batoush affirmed that the festival aligns with the royal vision of caring for the national narrative and preserving heritage, noting that Aqaba has proven its ability to host cultural events and welcome thinkers, creatives, and activists from various Arab countries. He added that the festival seeks to present a renewed face of culture, one that combines development and modernity with the preservation of the city's historical and aesthetic heritage, strengthening Aqaba's presence on the map of Arab and international cultural events.
For his part, Saudi media figure Ahmad Al-Shararri, taking part in the festival for the third time, said the event draws a select group of poets, writers, and media figures from across the Arab world, providing them a space for dialogue and exchanging experiences. He noted that holding the festival's activities across Aqaba, Petra, and Wadi Rum gives it an exceptional distinctiveness, given the tourism, natural, and historical assets these sites hold, making them an inspiring environment for cultural, literary, and media activities.
Al-Shararri added that participants experienced a comprehensive journey, moving between the Golden Triangle's sites and the diversity and beauty they hold, noting that the presence of poets, intellectuals, and media figures in these sites contributes to producing creative and media content that raises awareness of Jordan's tourism and cultural assets. He praised the warmth of the reception and the organization, considering the festival an important platform for presenting Jordan to Arab and global audiences through culture, literature, and media.
In the same context, Nasr Ibn Aoun, head of the poetry sector at the International Douz Festival of the Sahara in Tunisia, explained that there is a formal agreement and partnership between the two sides to exchange visits and cultural expertise, expressing his hope that this participation would help expand the presence of Tunisian poetry and its poets in the Kingdom, and lay the groundwork for broader cultural cooperation between Jordan and Tunisia.
For his part, Ahmad Al-Haqeesh, a specialist in cultural tourism in Aqaba, affirmed that the city represents a genuine destination for cultural tourism, alongside its well-known status as a coastal and tourism destination, noting that the diversity of visitor nationalities in Aqaba's streets and neighborhoods reflects its ability to attract tourists from around the world, and represents an opportunity to link cultural activity with tourism movement, and to offer events capable of introducing visitors to the city's history, heritage, and standing.
For her part, Iraqi participant Salma Badan said the festival provides an opportunity to bring Jordanian culture to a wider audience, particularly in European countries, noting that the closeness between Arab cultures facilitates communication and strengthens the ability to present a shared image of the region, affirming that what she witnessed during her participation in the festival represents rich cultural material, through which Jordan's image and experience can be conveyed abroad in a manner befitting the Kingdom and its civilizational standing.
Dr. Younis Jabarin from Palestine affirmed the importance of cultural tourism in building bridges of communication between peoples, noting that Aqaba offers a clear model of tourism cities' ability to embrace diversity and foster mutual understanding between cultures. He noted that participants witnessed, during their visit, the city's tourism assets and attractive urban environment, alongside the diversity of visitors and nationalities, affirming that hosting Arab and international events strengthens Aqaba's position as a bridge for cultural and human communication.
The twelfth edition of the festival served as a space for Arab cultural gathering, drawing on the geographic and touristic distinctiveness of the Golden Triangle, which brings together Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba, in an experience where culture intersects with tourism and heritage.
The events concluded with affirmations of continuing to develop the festival and expand the scope of Arab and international participation in its upcoming editions, in a way that strengthens its role in supporting the cultural scene and raising awareness of the Kingdom's tourism and heritage assets.
Resource: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Ahmad Al-Rawashdeh
