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First in series of conventions focusing on religious, medical tourism launches

By Maram Kayed - Apr 22,2019 - Last updated at Apr 22,2019

AMMAN — The “First Tourism Convention of 2019”, one of a series of conferences planned to discuss boosting religious and medical tourism to Jordan, was held on Saturday.

The convention, according to its President Monther Qaisi, was “a response to His Majesty King Abdullah’s directions to focus on the tourism sector, particularly medical tourism”.

Being the first of its kind this year, the conference mainly discussed research recently conducted on the field, and how the findings might benefit Jordan’s tourism sector.

“For now, stakeholders are laying out the current situation, and how it can be improved. The consecutive meetings will focus on implementing strategies directed at promoting religious and medical tourism,” said Batoul Maali, one of the event’s organisers.

Head of the Great Arab Revolt Club Baker Majali said in a speech given at the conference that Jordan must “take advantage of its strategic position in the region” and start “promoting itself as an investment opportunity”.

He added: “We are in the heart of the Middle East. Not only that, but we are also one of the few stable countries in it. That should be our angle.”

The ways in which Jordan might promote itself was the focus of Qaisi’s research paper, which he said “provided an inclusive and modern advertising model for the Kingdom to adopt”, by focusing on online audiences.

One of the main types of tourism the ministry plans to emphasise this year — religious tourism, was also focused on at the convention.

The main temples, shrines and castles significant in both Muslim and Christian religions were pointed to by the Director of the Dana Reserve Yousef Zreiqat, who said the attractions “must be given more attention as a first step to stimulating religious tourism”.

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