IFTM DAILY 2021 DAY 3

Jordan Tourism Board back
on the international scene at
IFTM 2021
Exclusive Interview - H.E. Nayef Hmeidi Al-Fayez - Minister
of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan
Jordan Tourism Board has a major presence at IFTM Top Resa
– as the first international trade show they have attended
since the onset of the Covid crisis. Minister of Tourism and
Antiquities, H.E. Nayef Hmeidi Al-Fayez is leading a large
delegation – with a very clear message…
The most important thing is that
we’re back. On an official level we
are here, but also with the private
sector so that we can meet and
get things moving as quickly as
possible. We are ready to receive
visitors from around the world.
Since the middle of the year,
people have started coming back.
We have been opening gradually,
and by the end of September,
everything was back to normal –
in the “new” normal. This is our
first international appearance,
so for us IFTM Top Resa is an
important event. The message to
the industry is that Jordan is back
in business.
And France is a top priority for
Jordan’s tourism re-start. French
nationals have been the highest
consumers of the “Jordan Pass” in
2021, France thus having gained
further importance as a leading
source market for Jordan in the
post-Covid world.
Hot Air Balloon-Wadi Rum
You had some great news this
year with the UNESCO World
Heritage listing of As-Salt. How
important has this been in terms
of creating a new dynamic?
It is very important, because As-
Salt is the first city that has been
listed. We have other sites that are
UNESCO World Heritage, but this
is the first liveable city that has
been listed. It is not only due to
the beauty of the city, but thanks
to the culture of Jordan. So, it is
very important for us.
What kinds of tourism are
trending now?
The beauty of Jordan is that while
it is geographically small, in terms
of diversity, it is huge. It can be
hard to find so much diversity even
within a continent. This is a key
advantage for the traveller. We
don’t want visitors just to come
and see the beautiful Petra, or
the thousands of archaeological
sites. We want them to experience
countless other things, such as
our fabulous nature, wellness and
leisure activities.
As you mentioned, this is the first
time back at a live show. How
has the reaction been to your
presence at IFTM
Everyone in the tourism business
is excited to be here, meeting
face-to-face. We’re fed up with
Zoom, with online meetings and
interviews. We want to see each
other, to have the smile, to have
the eye contact, the reactions.
And it’s important that it’s the
tourism industry is taking the lead,
because the tourism industry
is the bridge that brings people
together. So far, it has been very
positive. It has been busy, and
that’s a good message not only for
this show, but for others to come
also. Busy is good, but there is
quality as well. People are serious
here. They want to do business.
STAND 1-J91
© Jordan Tourism Board
WIZZ AIR
LAUNCHES EIGHT
NEW ROUTES TO
JORDAN
The Minister of Tourism and
Antiquities, HE Nayef Hmeidi
Al-Fayez, announced during a
press conference held on Sunday
October 3rd, the conclusion of
a new agreement between the
Kingdom and the international
low-cost airline Wizz Air, during
which the airline plans to operate
eight new routes into and from
the Kingdom.
Flights will come from Budapest,
Rome, Milan and Vienna into
Queen Alia International Airport
(QAIA). Meanwhile, four seasonal
routes will serve to Aqaba’s
King Hussein International
Airport (KHIA) – from Budapest,
Bucharest, Vienna and Rome.
The Jordan Tourism Board’s
main goal is to work on a priority
programme for 2021-2023 that
aims to attract tourists through
supporting low-cost airlines in
addition to Charter flights. To
that end, in the summer, the
Ministry launched a subsidy
programme under which any
charter passenger staying for over
a week is subsidised to the tune
of around €55.
HOT AIR BALLOON
FESTIVAL BRINGS
NEW DYNAMIC TO
JORDAN’S “GOLDEN
TRIANGLE”
The creation this year of a hot air
balloon festival in Wadi Rum is set
to create a new tourism dynamic
in the area.
The first five-day event of its kind
has just been held, breathing
fresh air into the Kingdom’s
tourism economy. It began with
the balloons launching from
the desert at sunrise and lining
the sky – a sight described as
“mesmerising”. It’s the first of what
is set to be an annual event that
will doubtless attract growing
crowds in years to come.
IFTM DAILY • JEUDI/THURSDAY 7 OCT. 2021 11