Aqaba, Turkey are Jordanians’ best travel destinations during eid holiday — stakeholders

AMMAN — With the Eid Al Fitr holiday set around one week, Jordanians have planned their vacations, with Aqaba and Turkey as the top destinations.

A representative from a travel agency told The Jordan Times that Aqaba is still “the most desirable local destination for Jordanians and foreigners”.

The travel agent, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: “Wadi Rum is also gaining popularity after the recent hotels and contemporary camps that opened there.”

“Bubble camps”, a new form of luxurious camps, have helped boost Wadi Rum’s appeal to tourists and locals, according to officials’ previous remarks to The Jordan Times.

Saed Khoury, one of the owners of the Khoury Travel Agency, also said that Wadi Rum and Aqaba packages are by far the most popular.

“We have reservations far into July for both luxurious and affordable packages,” he told The Jordan Times in a phone interview.

He added that some people have a misconception when it comes to inbound tourism. “Many people think that for a luxurious holiday you have to travel abroad, but the truth is that Jordan offers many options, one of which is a lavish stay.”

For those who do prefer travelling abroad, Turkey still tops the list for many, Nowar Abdelsaeed, a worker at the Atlas Travel Agency, said.

“I would say that 90 per cent of people choose Turkey, but there is also demand on Sharm El Sheikh, Georgia and Armenia.”

Tareq Masri, who has been travelling to Turkey for the past three eids with his family, said that it has “many advantages that are appealing to Arabs”.

“It is near, affordable, and beautiful. We have been there three times to three different cities and they are all different. It is a good place for a short three-day stay.”