Jordan boosts ATM exposure, eyes Gulf families

The marketing authority is taking part at Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the foremost travel trade exhibition in the Middle East, inaugurated in Dubai, Tuesday May 2, with a strong delegation that represents a wide range of the travel industry in the kingdom including tour operators, airlines and hotels.

'We are launching an array of new products that will appeal to the GCC families " said Mazen Homoud Managing Director JTB 'In fact, we have succeeded in the past few years in positioning the country as the destination of choice for both local and expat families in this region and it is our objective to capitalise on that success and take the extra mile towards bringing more families to experience the many beauties of Jordan.'

He added that the exhibition which runs through May 5, 2006 was an invaluable opportunity for the Jordanian participants to network with their counterparts from all over the world and explores joint ventures and efforts to promote Jordan.

According to JTB, more than 5.8 million people visited Jordan last year, a healthy increase of 4.1 per cent against 2004.

'Arab tourists represented almost 62 per cent of the total inbound traffic in 2005 while 13 per cent were Europeans, 3.8 per cent from the Americas, 3.6 per cent came from Australasia and Asia and the rest were expt Jordanians,' explained Mazen Homoud Managing Director.

In addition, JTB is promoting the flourishing meeting, incentives, conferences and exhibition (MICE) sector.

'MICE is very important for us in terms of revenues and exposure and we have a lot to offer in this respect,' Mazen Homoud Managing Director said.

Other products include education and health services as Jordan boasts a prominent position in these two sectors. The country hosts many fine universities and colleges that teach different faculties in both Arabic and English. Also, more than 112 thousand foreign patients were admitted into Jordanian hospitals and clinics between 1999 and 2003. Jordan is reputed as one of the finest health services centers in the Middle East.