(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, APRIL 25 - Jordan and Turkey have been
discussing potential cooperation in the tourism sector and are
expected to develop joint packages for long-haul tourists, a
Jordanian sector official said as reported by Turkish media
quoting daily Jordan Times.
Jordan Tourism Board Director General Abdul Razaq Arabiat
said that although the Kingdom receives visitors from countries
far away like Brazil, Australia, Korea and Japan, ''our main
goal is still to increase the number of visitors coming from
these countries''. He explained that a lack of direct flights
from these countries to Jordan makes it difficult for
prospective tourists to visit the Kingdom as a standalone
destination. Arabiat made his remarks on Monday on the sidelines
of the first Turkish-Arab Tourism Forum, organised by the Arab
Tourism Organisation (ATO), which began on Sunday in the Turkish
city of Bursa.
In meetings with Turkish Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay,
''we discussed the possibility of developing joint packages for
potential visitors from these countries to enable them visit
both Turkey and Jordan'', Arabiat said, adding that Turkish
carriers operate direct flights to these countries, which will
help give tourists the option of visiting Jordan in the same
trip. Meanwhile, ATO President Sheikh Bandar Bin Fahed said the
forum was meant to bolster cooperation between Arab countries
and Turkey in tourism, in addition to encouraging more
investment in the sector. Figures he presented showed that about
31 million tourists visit Turkey annually, compared to 35
million tourists who visit all of the Arab countries together.
''We want to have more cooperation with Turkey to build on their experience,'' Sheikh Bandar said. (ANSAmed).
''We want to have more cooperation with Turkey to build on their experience,'' Sheikh Bandar said. (ANSAmed).
