Adventure tourism conference opens in Jordan

AMMAN — Deputising for HRH Crown Prince Hussein, Tourism Minister Lina Annab on Tuesday inaugurated the second conference of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), dubbed Adventure NEXT Near East.

Annab said that hosting the conference for the second time in the Kingdom stresses Jordan's significance on the world tourism map and provides an opportunity to highlight the unique adventure tourism experiences in the country, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The conference, held at the Dead Sea, will provide a platform to present and discuss creative ideas for developing tourism products in the adventure tourism field, the minister added.

"Adventure tourism is a rapid-developing sector in the world in general and Jordan in particular," said Annab, adding that the sector has achieved several successes that made Jordan a global tourist destination.

In a press conference that followed the inauguration ceremony, the minister said that the Kingdom is considered "one of the best destinations" for adventure tourism according to international agencies specialised in the field. 

Jordan has a diversified nature and distinguished social fabric that combines the past and present in a harmonious way, making the Kingdom "the best destination" for adventure tourism, Annab added.

Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) Director Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat said that organising the event for the second time was a result of joint efforts towards its success, adding that the Kingdom is the best place for adventure tourism agents to meet.

He reviewed JTB's efforts in organising the event through its offices in North America and ATTA, stressing that the conference will provide an opportunity for international media coverage to the adventure tourism in Jordan, as invitations were extended to 37 journalists, bloggers and photographers specialised in this kind of tourism, in addition to 200 tourist agents.