Katamine highlights Kingdom’s tourist attractions

AMMAN — Developing cooperation in the labour and tourism sectors was the focus of talks Minister of Labour and Tourism Nidal Katamine held with three diplomats on Thursday. 

During separate meetings with the ambassadors of China, Thailand and India, discussions covered means of increasing the number of tourists visiting the country.

Katamine highlighted the Kingdom’s tourist attractions, mainly historic and religious sites, stressing the need to activate the memoranda of understanding signed with their respective countries in this regard. 

During a meeting with China’s Ambassador to Jordan Gao Yusheng, Katamine briefed him on the ministry’s plans to promote tourism, underlining the importance of His Majesty King Abdullah’s recent visit to China to boost cooperation between the two countries. 

The Chinese ambassador suggested intensifying promotional campaigns in his country and for Jordanian tourism companies to launch joint programmes with other neighbouring countries as a means to attract more visitors, underlining Jordan’s diverse tourism products.

Meanwhile, Thai Ambassador to Jordan Piriya Khempon asserted the importance of establishing a Jordanian embassy in his country to facilitate travel procedures for Thai tourists.

Khempon welcomed the idea of ??bringing Thais to work at different hospitality facilities such as hotels, restaurants and tourist resorts that provide therapeutic services.

He highlighted the opportunity to promote religious tourism in Thailand, especially since there are nearly 10 million Muslims and four million Christians in his country.

India’s Ambassador to Jordan Radha Ranjan Dash said recent measures taken to streamline the entry of Indian tourists to the country will definitely boost the sector. 

He also called for renewing a memorandum of understanding on labour that was signed between the two countries in 1988.

In addition, Dash suggested filming documentaries that highlight Jordan’s ancient and historic sites and heritage, noting that several Indians have volunteered to carry out this mission. 

In “Krrish 3”, a 2013 science fiction film, a song was shot in Jordan where different scenes showed Petra’s Treasury. 

Furthermore, Katamine and Dash agreed to organise meetings between Jordanian and Indian tourism and labour officials to discuss ways to strengthen ties in these spheres.