JITOA meets the press, calls for greater cooperation

The aim is to build a stronger relationship between the tourism sector and the local and international media.

JITOA's Executive Director Ahmed Al Bashiti says we want a build a strong relationship with the media because we believe that they can air out the views of tour operators in Jordan effectively with regards to the local tourism sector and putting it on the right path as a booming industry.

After much deliberation it was decided that three seated dinner tables would be put in place with one or two tour operator members in each setting. Thus JITOA's Chairman Awni Kawar was on one table with Ahmed Al Bashiti, on another was Munir Nassar, former minister, ex-board member and experienced tour operator together with Nabih Rayal, and on the third table was Ghada Al Najjar, also a board member.

Journalists from Reuters, Al Ghad, AD Dustour, Al Ghad, Al Rai, Arab Al Youm, Petra (Jordan Press Agency), The Star and Venture Magazine sat on the different tables to listen before the meal courses were served.

Informally Awni Kawar began telling journalists there are immediate problems to be solved related to ports of entry where tiresome procedure was hampering the tourist flow. He said these need to be solved because incoming tourists don't want to wait after their long journey to Jordan but need to start their holiday of sightseeing as soon as soon as possible.

"Tiresome procedure inevitably leads to confusion and loss of business," adding "what we want to see is simple unified procedure in all of Jordan's ports of entry whether it's at the Queen Alia International Airport and/or at the Aqaba port."

This is while Bashiti added this could very well be solved through greater training programs of staff at border points, and suggesting this is partly why we are having a career forum for the tourism and hospitality industry to ensure quality recruitment is created.

Everyone argued tour operators need more entry permits at points of entry to ensure more smoothness of tourist flow as some of the tourists have difficulty in language problems which quite frequently hampers communication and delay. This was a point picked up by Munir Nassar who said there must be better coordination between the three ministries directly involve in the tourism sector which are the Ministries of Tourism, Interior and Transport.

Tour operators were worried about the issue of restricted nationalities, and Ghada Al Najjar said the whole issue needs to be looked at again because the world is a continually changing place. China and India continue to be on the list of restricted nationalities, that is individuals coming from these countries need a visa to get in Jordan, yet China at 34 million tourists in 2006, is the biggest world exporter of tourism. Similarly in India there is a growing sizable economic strata who are continually traveling and are taking holidays.

She added this is the time on the part of the authorities in Jordan to change the procedure and take advantage of the tourism flow and start a media and marketing campaign away from the traditional markets and to concentrate on the emerging markets that include eastern Europe, Greece, China and India.

Meetings like this one with the press will from now on be held regularly.