Jordan: Modern Wonder

 
Jordan is a land of contrasts: desert wastelands, deep gorges, wildlife reserves, coral reefs and a history that encompasses a number of cultures and religions. With its crowning glory Petra named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, more people are flocking to see its many sites. Sarah Campbell takes a closer look at what the country has to offer.
 

 
One of the most open and easily accessible countries in the Middle East, Jordan has long been a favourite with regional and international travellers, drawn to its ancient sites, awe inspiringnatural beauty and the hospitality of its people.
 
International arrivals to the country have spiked following the naming of the ancient city of Petra as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in July 2007. Last year, the country welcomedmore than 6.5 m arrivals, with figures for 2008 set to show a marked increase on that number.
 
According to Nayef Al Fayez, managing director, Jordan Tourism Board, Jordan is an open museum filled with archaeological sites and wonders such as Petra, Bethany Beyond the Jordan where Jesus was baptised, and the Dead Sea – the world’s largest natural spa. All of these natural wonders continue to attract numbers of international visitors, leading to developments in hotels and restaurants across the country. “The tourism industry is booming in Jordan and we can easily notice this through the large number of hotels and recreational facilities that are being built throughout the Kingdom,” Fayez explains. “Besides we see an increase in the number of restaurants in Jordan that cater to every taste and budget. Many international restaurants have opened here in Amman. The quality of the service offered by the restaurants is being upgraded to the highest international standards,” Fayez adds.
 

 
New developments
 
One of the largest tourism developments to come online recently was the opening of the second phase of the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea. The hotel now offers 318 rooms and suites, nine restaurants and bars, a movie theatre, nine swimming pools, a spa and bowling centre. “There is considerable increase in business so far,” admits Ashraf Abul Huda, marketing manager, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea.
 
“As for the restaurant industry, there has been a huge increase over the past five years. Jordan has always managed to maintain a smooth and safe atmosphere, hence the result is an increase in total ‘outings’ by local guests, and what we are seeing today is at least five times more activity than 4-5 years ago,” he explains. The hotel, which opened its first phase in 2006, is proving popular with European and North American guests, with weekend traffic from Amman. Hotels and restaurants in the capital Amman have also seen a steady increase in business, with the Four Seasons Amman recording growth from both its business and leisure markets. Meanwhile, the Crowne Plaza Amman added two new outlets to its F&B portfolio in 2007. The Halaby Restaurant serves specialty dishes from Aleppo while Il Giardino serves the finest in Italian cuisine. The hotel also plans to add a steak house in 2008.
 
Jordan Restaurant Association
 
Set up in 2002 by classified restaurant owners and with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, the Jordan Restaurant Association represents over 600 members, including restaurants, fast food, entertainment cities, coffee shops, pubs, discos and night clubs. It is also a member of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA), the Arab Tourism Organization and the Jordanian Federation of Tourism Associations.
 
www.jordanrestaurant.com
 
International Hospitality Forum
 
The 8th edition of the annual International Hospitality Forum is set to take place from 2 to 4 November 2008 in Amman, Jordan. Organised by Jordanian company Events Unlimited and Lebanese company Hospitality Services, the forum provides a meeting place for those working in the hotels and restaurants industries. The 2007 edition saw 65 international and local companies showcasing high-end services and products and attracted about 4,000 professional visitors. The forum also featured cooking contests where more than 120 Jordanian cooks participated in 15 cooking competitions.
 
www.ihfjordan.com
 

 
| 15 April 2008 |