Queen Rania Highlights the Ability of Jordan’s Tourism Industry to Compete with Its Counterparts in the Region

February 13, 2002

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Amman) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah on highlighted the ability of Jordan's tourism industry to compete with its counterparts in the region.

Participating in a meeting organized by the Board of Directors of the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB), Queen Rania said that Jordan is able to offer tourists a "great product" covering history, culture, and tradition.

Jordan's tourist attractions, she added, should be presented to visitors through a "modern" and tourist-friendly infrastructure.

Queen Rania also highlighted the importance of focusing on equipping the country's human capital and raising its skills and ability to offer "excellent" services in tourism-related sectors.

The country's strategies to market Jordan, the Queen added, should be flexible and pro-active in order to tackle any arising challenges.

Dr. Taleb Rifai, Minister of Tourism & Antiquities and Chairman of the JTB, delivered a 5-minute presentation on the Jordanian tourism industry's current situation, as well as the JTB's strategies to promote and market Jordan.

The organization's integrated program of international promotional activities, Dr. Rifai added, aim to meet Arab and international tourists' interests.

In a power point presentation, JTB's Managing Director Mr. Marwan Khoury outlined the organization's vision, mission, goals, future strategies and marketing plan to promote the Kingdom in international tourist markets, maximizing on the country's tourist attractions as well as the services offered by the industry.

Mr. Mazen Al-Homoud, JTB's Deputy Managing Director and Marketing Director,
also highlighted the strong cooperation that currently exists between the JTB and travel agents around the world. The JTB, launched in March 1998, is a public-private partnership--first of its kind in the region--that aims to brand, position, and promote Jordan's tourism product internationally through various marketing strategies.

In addition to the Minister of Tourism & Antiquities, the JTB's Board of Directors includes representatives of Royal Jordanian Airlines, Royal Wings, Jordan Export and Development Corporation (JEDCO), the Jordan Hotel Association, Travel Agents Association, as well as several major hotels and travel agencies in the country.