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AMMAN — The conference of the leading network of French independent travel agencies, “Selector 2023” concluded in Amman on Saturday.

The conference, which was organised by Al Thuraya Travel and Tourism, saw the participation of 600 French companies and tourism experts, according to the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB).

The event shed light on Jordan’s landmarks and was a dynamic platform for professional networking and promoting sustainable tourism experience, JTB said.

During the conference, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy praised the strong Jordanian-French relations, highlighting the pivotal role of tourism in both countries and urging efforts to boost the sector's contribution to the Kingdom's income and economic growth.

JTB Director General Abdul Razzaq Arabiyyat noted France’s rank among the most crucial markets for tourism to Jordan, citing the “significant” increase of French tourists visiting Jordan who reached 83,672 in the first 10 months of 2023 compared to 63,605 visitors in the same period of 2022. 

JTB announced plans to launch an e-platform designed to gather insights into the trends and preferences of French tourists both before and during their visits to the Kingdom.

AMMAN — Ezzeddin Kanakrieh, the CEO of  Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF) said on Sunday that  SSIF plays a significant role in realising economic growth and bolstering the business environment by institutionalising corporate governance and sustainable development principles and practices.

Kanakrieh made his remarks during the 8th forum for corporate governance, co-organised by the SSIF and Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ), with the participation of Social Security Corporation (SSC) representatives in companies and banks' boards of directors, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The CEO noted that the SSIF has been conducting forums over the past years with the aim of discussing different aspects of institutional governance. He also referred to plans of hosting more specialised events in the future. 

Kanakrieh added that this forum specifically targets representatives on the boards of directors of 13 commercial and Islamic banks in which the SSC maintains a strategic share, highlighting that 44 per cent of SSIF's overall contributions portfolio is invested in the banking sector.

Kanakrieh also praised CBJ's role in boosting corporate governance practices, enhancing banking sector resilience and stabilising monetary policy. He emphasised the importance of the current partnership between the SSIF and the CBJ, which is aimed at boosting the national economy by establishing a resilient institutional system for banks. “This system is designed to guarantee the financial stability of banks and ensure the long-term sustainability of their operations.” 

The forum also addressed CBJ's guidelines regarding corporate governance for banks, highlighting the crucial role of a bank's board of directors in shaping its objectives, policies, and strategic plans. It also stressed the importance of developing policies that focus on the bank's responsibility for environmental and societal protection, among other issues, Petra reported.

While the SSIF's investment in the banking sector is a significant part of its portfolio, it also invests in other sectors such as mining, energy, real estate development, tourism, agriculture, services, industry, and development zones, in addition to financing major projects in the health, transportation and logistics sectors, Petra reported.

AMMAN — An 18-year-old man was charged on Sunday with premeditated murder in connection with the alleged murder of his older sister in the Jordan Valley last week, official sources.

The 19-year-old victim was reportedly stabbed by her brother with a kitchen knife while at their family's home on November 30, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said last week.

The suspect then headed to the nearest police station and handed officers on duty a kitchen knife and notified them that he murdered his sister, a senior judicial source told The Jordan Times.

Police had stated shortly after the incident that the teenager was reportedly murdered following a family dispute.

In his initial confession to Criminal Court Prosecutor Imad Ghweiri, the suspect claimed that “he stabbed his sister multiple times because she left the house twice without his permission”, the senior judicial source said.

The suspect also claimed that the victim went to “unknown destinations, which angered him and he decided to kill her”, according to the senior judicial source.

“These are the suspect’s claims, but we are still questioning the victim’s parents and other family members to learn more about the stabbing incident,” the senior judicial source told The Jordan Times.

The victim was not married and was living with her parents, the senior judicial source added.

The senior judicial source added that investigators are still waiting on the autopsy report results in hopes that it would help them with their investigations and conclusions.

 The suspect was ordered detained by Ghweiri at a correctional and rehabilitation centre for 15 days pending further investigations, the senior judicial source said.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah returned to Jordan on Sunday after a visit to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28, according to a Royal Court statement.

AMMAN — The Directorate of Operations and Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the case of a Jordanian and members of his family who were subjected to shelling by Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip. Ministry's Spokesperson Sufian Qudah said that the ministry has contacted the Jordanian citizen and his family, who reported that their residence was bombarded, killing one of his sons and injuring another. The injured son is currently in a coma and receiving treatment at the Baptist hospital in the Gaza Strip. Qudah said that the ministry is closely monitoring the situation of the Jordanian citizen and his injured son, working to transfer them to receive treatment at the Jordanian field hospital until their evacuation to the Kingdom. The spokesperson stated that the Jordanian government holds the Israeli occupation forces fully responsible for the safety of this family and all Jordanian citizens who have been unable to leave the Gaza Strip.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday accepted the credentials of newly appointed ambassadors to Jordan, during a ceremony at Basman Palace.

King Abdullah accepted the credentials of ambassadors Hamad Al Marri of Kuwait, Moufida Zribi of Tunisia and Sheikh Fahad Bin Abdulrahman Bin Ahmed Al Ojaili of Oman, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty also accepted the credentials of ambassadors Marieke Zimburg of Austria, Metin Kazak of Bulgaria, Tselane Mokuena of South Africa, Philip Hall of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Muhammad Ajmal Iqbal of Pakistan.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attended the ceremony.

AMMAN — The ongoing war on Gaza has lead to mass cancellations of car rental bookings in Jordan, sparked by fears of spillover, according to the Jordanian Car Rental Association. 

Its spokesperson, Akram Badran, told The Jordan Times that over 90 per cent of bookings for October, November, December and January were cancelled. 

Visitors usually book car rentals in advance before coming to Jordan, according to Badran, who noted that there are currently “almost” no bookings for December and January. 

The mass cancellations in the sector began in October, approximately ten days into the war on Gaza, he added 

Badran also noted that many tourists, who were already in Jordan cut their trips short, and cancelled the remaining period of their booking to go back to their countries for fear that the war, would expand to Jordan. 

The prime seasons for the car rental business in Jordan include the period from June to September, during which expatriates in Gulf countries come back to spend the summer in Jordan, said Badran. 

The other peak period is the winter season from October to January, during which Jordan receives visitors mostly from European countries, he added. 

Badran stressed that it’s necessary to take measures to postpone loan payments due from car rental businesses to banks and other financing institutions to help the sector manage its losses. 

The car rental businesses in Jordan have not yet recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic which took a toll on the tourism sector in Jordan, he said. 

“All car rental companies, no matter their size, are struggling... the overall losses in the sector most likely exceeded 80 per cent,” added Badran. 

He pointed out that many companies are contemplating laying off some of their employees or reducing their salaries if the situation remains the same in December. 

There are companies, which have already made the decision to sell their cars and permanently close if they weren’t able to manage their losses by the end of the year, Badran said. 

He also noted that many car rental businesses had to rent empty spaces to park their cars, as the garage capacity for most companies cannot accommodate all cars at the same time. “These costs combined with taxes, licensing and insurance fees add to our losses.” 

There are currently around 235 care rental companies distributed across the Kingdom, according to Badran.

AMMAN — Over 70 per cent of reservations in the country’s tourism sector have been cancelled in the wake of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, according to officials. 

Hamzah Haj Hassan, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority tourism commissioner told The Jordan Times that over 70 per cent of reservations to Aqaba have been cancelled. 

“Over 70 per cent of pre-booked reservations for ferry tourism have been subsequently cancelled due to the aggression on Gaza,” Haj Hassan added. 

Bassem Ghalayeni, a board member of Jordan Society of Travel Agents (JSTA) conveyed the gravity of the situation to The Jordan Times, the entire tourism sector is currently on standby mode, facing an unprecedented challenge, he said. 

“The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has taken swift action by forming a committee comprising representatives from JSTA, Social Security Corporation, Jordan Tourism Board, private and public Sectors to address the challenge,” Ghalayeni added. 

Ghalayeni stressed that the primary objective of this committee is to address the critical situation and devise strategic solutions to counter the impact of the cancellations. “This move reflects the government’s commitment to supporting the tourism industry, which plays a vital role in Jordan’s economy,” said Ghalayeni. 

Ghalayeni highlighted that the committee held its first meeting, and the sector is awaiting recommendations that will hopefully support the industry. 

“We believe that the hit on the tourism industry might be stronger than COVID-19,” Ghalayeni noted. 

The comparison to the global pandemic underscores the repercussions the sector is experiencing due to the ongoing conflict, Ghalayeni explained. 

“The tourism industry, which was already grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic, now faces an additional and formidable challenge,” Ghaleni said. 

Sources within the hospitality sector, which preferred to remain anonymous, told The Jordan Times that despite the alarming situation, employee contracts have not been terminated “yet”. 

“This uncertainty adds to the mounting concerns within the industry as businesses grapple with financial strain and the uncertainty of future bookings,” one of the sources added. 

Meanwhile, tourism experts are urging travel agents to shift their focus towards encouraging domestic tourism and tapping into the expatriate community. 

“These avenues are critical to sustaining the hospitality sector during these challenging times,” Mohammad Khair, tourism expert told The Jordan Times. 

Khair added that domestic tourism and expatriates are crucial to maintaining the hospitality sector amid the current crisis. “Travel agents play a pivotal role in promoting and facilitating domestic travel, contributing to the sector’s resilience,” said Khair. 

As international travel faces disruptions, redirecting efforts towards local and expatriate markets becomes imperative for the survival of many businesses within the industry, according to Khair. 

AMMAN — The local apparel industry has given over JD2.4 million worth of clothing donations to help cover the basic needs of war-affected and displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to a stakeholder.

“The mounds of donations include 433,000 pieces of apparel and footwear which were brought in by sector traders and retailers operating in the Kingdom and a number of countries abroad,” according to President of the Textile, Readymade Clothes and Footwear Syndicate Sultan Allan.

The campaign was organised in partnership with the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO), Allan told The Jordan Times. Highlighting that traders operating in China, Türkiye, and other East Asian countries have donated cold-weather clothing to support families of Gaza.

Approximately $374,000 has been raised from sector representatives for medicine, medical supplies and equipment, he said. 

The delivery of all in-kind donations will be through the JHCO, Allan added.

He affirmed that this campaign has been conducted to provide support with urgent clothing needs, highlighting that all donated clothes, footwear, bedding and blankets are brand new.

According to Hala Abdulla, owner of a local boutique, “since the beginning of Gaza war many retailers in our area raised funds and directly donated to the JHCO,” noting that the substantial funds raised during the campaign, serve as proof of unwavering support for the people of Gaza.

Hassan Tawfiq, an employee at a local clothing store, said that “Financially speaking, a significant portion of sector operators are going through a very rough period, but that did not stop them from joining efforts to support the people in Gaza”.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah stressed the need for the United States to play a leading role in pushing for a political horizon for the Palestinian issue to reach peace on the basis of the two-state solution, during a meeting with US Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday.

At the meeting, held on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai, King Abdullah called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and protecting civilians, warning of the repercussions of the continued war on international peace and security, including further violence and conflict that could plunge the entire region into a catastrophe, according to a Royal Court statement.

The two sides reaffirmed their rejection of any attempts of forced displacement of the Palestinians internally or outside Gaza, or attempts to re-occupy any parts of the Strip.

His Majesty stressed the importance of maintaining the uninterrupted delivery of sufficient aid, including food, water, fuel and electricity, without any impediments, warning against the targeting of hospitals and hindering the delivery of medical supplies.

The King also warned against any attempt to separate the West Bank and Gaza, which must jointly form the Palestinian state.

In addition, His Majesty noted the dangerous Israeli escalation in the West Bank and extremist settler violence against the Palestinians, which may expand the conflict and create chaos in the West Bank.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan attended the meeting.