‘Ministry following up with tourists during polar front’

AMMAN — Tourism Minister Nayef Al Fayez on Monday stressed his ministry's preparedness to deal with the polar front currently affecting the Kingdom through an operations room to contact tourists around the Kingdom, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The operations room can be reached on 117777, Fayez told Petra, adding that the ministry deals with emergencies in cooperation with the Tourism Police, whose personnel check on the conditions of tourists at airports and borders. 

He also said the ministry will help with providing alternative routes in case of snow accumulation. 

Meanwhile, Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) Chairman Mohammad Nawafleh said tourism movement is going as usual in Petra, unaffected by the current weather conditions.

The emergency committee in PDTRA, in cooperation with the concerned authorities in the region, has intensified field inspections to ensure smooth movement, especially in areas forecast to observe heavy snowfall, Petra reported.

Nawafleh said that on Sunday, PDTRA's vehicles cleared the roads between Petra and Shobak after light snowfall to avoid accumulation and slippery roads, urging the public not to go out unless if necessary.

He also urged the public to call PDTRA's emergency rooms in case of road closures or need of services on: 0799724823 or 032156889 for the main room; 0799031999 or 032150012 for the southern neighbourhood; and 0772261830 for the archaeological park.