To attract tourists

A Russian plane carrying hundreds of Russian tourists landed in Aqaba  Thursday, the first of a plan to bring in Russian tourists.

Unable to travel to Egyptian resorts anymore, they could easily opt for vacationing in Jordan.

Aqaba and the Dead Sea are blessed with warm and sunny weather even during most of the winter season, so it is natural to attract tourists fleeing the gloom and cold of winter.

If indeed this change of destination for Russian tourists happens, and one hopes it does, it will be both an opportunity and a challenge for the country.

One of the prime reasons Aqaba was chosen by Russian tourists is the fact that Jordanian authorities take strict security measures, not only at airports but at many other venues in the country as well.

Tourists need security and safety above all in order to enjoy their holidays, especially when they come as families, accompanied by children.

Jordanians are friendly and hospitable, which can only add to the attraction for visitors.

Yet all this is only one side of the equation.

In return for the tourists’ trust in the safety of the country, employees in hotels, restaurants, shopping areas and other places tourists usually frequent during their stay in a country must extend all the courtesy and support to tourists to make their holidays as pleasant and memorable as possible.

Services must be up to standards and prices must remain competitive and attractive enough to encourage first-time tourists to Jordan to return and newcomers to be tempted to make the Kingdom their destination.

The tourism industry must not exploit any growth in the number of tourists and unnecessarily hike prices if it looks for sustainability.

In short, all stakeholders must strive to make Aqaba, as well as all the other tourist places in the country, sought-after destinations for all tourists all year round.