Aqaba, Petra, Wadi Rum announced safe zones — ASEZA

AMMAN — The government’s announcement of the “Golden Triangle” (Aqaba, Petra, Wadi Rum) as a safe zone came into effect as of Thursday, according to President of Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZA) Nayeh Bakhit. 

Bakhit said that the safe zone procedures will help stimulate the tourist and economic activities in Aqaba, located some 330 kilometres south of the capital. 

They will also cancel the partial curfew and allow facilities to operate with 100 per cent capacity, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The ASEZA president noted that all those willing to visit the coastal city should have at least 21 days after the first vaccination dose or have received two doses of COVID vaccines, or present a negative test conducted 72 hours prior to their entry to the zone.

Authorities can also conduct rapid tests for those willing to enter the zone through the Wadi Araba and Mazfar border crossings, he pointed out.

Bakhit added that the Health Ministry had issued regulations to ease entry procedures to Aqaba, such as allowing a family entry if one of the parents had received the vaccine or could present negative PCR tests.

Meanwhile, ASEZA Deputy President Sharhabil Madi said that the zone, in cooperation with the Health Ministry, has secured free vaccines to all arrivals, whether they are visitors or residents.

Madi also noted that occupancy rates at Aqaba hotels on Thursday stood at 60 per cent, adding that tourist ships are expected to arrive at the port city in the second half of the month.

He expected some 85,000 tourists to arrive in Aqaba over the next six months, pointing out that charter flights have already started arriving at King Hussein International Airport.