King tours Jerash Visitor Centre

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday toured Jerash Visitor Centre, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Hussein.

King Abdullah highlighted the importance of utilising technology to enhance tourists’ experience, stressing the need to link the tourism site with Jerash city to encourage visitors to explore the downtown area, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty and Crown Prince Hussein toured a bazaar showcasing products by the local community, and an archaeological exhibition, with the King highlighting the need to support local tourism products inside archaeological sites.

His Majesty listened to a briefing by Tourism Minister Makram Queisi on the plan to develop tourism in Jerash (2022-2027) based on four pillars of improving services, site administration, tourism product and experiences, and extending visitors’ stay.

Queisi said the first pillar includes rehabilitating roads leading to tourism and archaeological sites, developing the Ottoman building located within the tourism site, rehabilitating Beit Souf, improving cleanliness levels, enhancing instruction signs, and addressing traffic issues.

The pillar of site administration will cover improving infrastructure and basic services, including security measures and identifying visitors’ tracks, in addition to rehabilitating the crafts market, and creating accessible tracks.

Under the pillar of tourism product and experiences, the minister said the plan includes developing the site’s historical narrative, empowering local communities, and improving electronic services, with additional suggestions in the plan for investment opportunities and activities to extend visitors’ stay in Jerash.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi and Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan accompanied the King on the visit.