Jordan Tourism MD reassures trade it has not been hit by unrest
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Nayef Al-Fayez, managing director of the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) has reassured the travel trade that the country has not been hit by unrest in the past two months. Speaking to Travel Daily yesterday, Al-Fayez said that there were protests in the country, but they were not volatile or part of the unrest that swept across the Middle East. “We have nothing to hide and you can see on the ground how things are. Jordan is the same now as it was four or five months ago and will be in the future,” he said. “Jordan might have seen some protests here and there but this is normal. It is not new for Jordan but the media attention is new because of what is happening in the Middle East.” It could be said that the UK can be compared to the country, following the student and cutback protests in the capital in recent months. Meanwhile Al-Fayez said the trade had been supportive of the destination and there had been ‘no struggle’ in keeping its product on tour operator’s portfolios. “Our trade partners are confident in Jordan and there is no struggle. However, new bookings are challenging, particularly in advance,” he revealed. However, the destination has had plenty of good news this month after easyJet’s launched its service to Amman and British Airways’ signed its codeshare with Royal Jordanian. The destination also saw a 6.1 percent increase in UK overnight visitors during March, although figures from the first three months of 2011 have dropped by 3.2 percent. Al Fayez said the tourism board has cut back its forward figures and plans to have as many arrivals as it did last year. He remained positive that Aqaba’s Arab Tourism Capital status, the 200th anniversary of Petra’s discovery next year and a host of festivals would encourage Brits to visit the country.
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