Agreement with Wizz Air to attract 167,000 tourists to Jordan during 1st year of operation — JTB

AMMAN — Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef Al Fayez announced on Sunday the new aviation agreement between Jordan and the global low-cost airline company, Wizz Air. 

The agreement includes the airline’s launch of eight new destinations to and from the Kingdom. 

Fayez, during a press conference, noted that the tourism sector in Jordan is “on the right path to gradual recovery and going according to the plan”.

“We are optimistic about the achievements that the ministry and the Jordanian Tourism Board (JTB) are seeking to achieve,” the minister said.

Fayez stressed the importance of reviving in-bound tourism to support the sector.

“The ministry of tourism is working to continue and increase air traffic of all kinds, whether regular or low-cost flights,” he added.

“We are pleased to launch the agreement with the international company, Wizz Air, which will have a great impact on increasing the number of tourists to the Kingdom during the coming period,” Fayez noted.

Fayez also pointed out that before the pandemic, low-cost flights gave new impetus to Jordanian tourism. 

Managing Director of the JTB Abdelrazzak Arabiyat highlighted the importance of launching this agreement with Wizz Air.

Arabiyat said that the agreement came as a result of continuous efforts over the past few years.

He noted that the flights will carry tourists of various European nationalities to the Kingdom.

“It is expected that these regular flights will positively affect the movement of the tourism sector and significantly increase the number of tourists coming to Jordan,” Arabiyat said.

Arabiyat noted that the agreement with Wizz Air will include the launch of marketing campaigns, adding that during its first year the airline operation is expected to attract 167,000 tourists to Jordan.

Arabiyat said that the first landing of a Wizz Air plane in Jordan will be later this year, on December 15.

Wizz Air will launch a total of eight destinations, including four lines to and from Amman (Queen Alia International Airport) throughout the year and four lines to and from Aqaba (King Hussein International Airport) during the winter season only.

Arabiyat also added that the following routes are going operate year-round, Budapest, Rome, Milan and Vienna.

“The ministry and JTB’s main priority is to attract more visitors by supporting charter and low-cost flights, increase the rate of tourists’ stay and the tourism income,” said Arabiyat.

He added that the sector had previously collapsed due to restrictions on air transport during the pandemic, which resulted in million-dollar losses.

Arabiyat also confirmed that both the ministry and the JTB are working to develop and promote the Jordanian tourism product.

Chief Supply Chain Officer of Wizz Air, Owain Jones, expressed his happiness with the agreement. “We are very delighted that Jordan is the 51st country that we collaborate with. The development witnessed in Jordan is great and we want to help drive the business up, as well as the tourism industry,” Jones said during the press conference.

“Wizz Air has been operating for over 17 years, and is well known as the ultra-low-cost carrier in Europe, we are currently operating in 50 countries worldwide, our marketing targets the youngest demographics,” Jones said.

Jones stated that the company's website is globally ranked as the fifth most visited airline’s website.

Jones indicated that Jordan is rich in history and culture, saying: “Jordan is definitely one of the most exciting places and has so much to offer on different levels".

He also noted that this agreement is the beginning of “long-term” relations between Wizz Air and Jordan.

Fayez noted that almost 100 per cent of the tourism sector’s employees are fully vaccinated. 

He added that the ministry is on the “right path to revive the sector”. First, the ministry worked on domestic tourism through the “Urdun Jannah” programme. Now, the ministry is working on attracting tourists from abroad, he said.