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AMMAN — Royal Jordanian (RJ) on Wednesday said it has launched an initiative to offer discounted tickets to attract tourists to Jordan from all over the world, especially from destinations covered by RJ in the Gulf region and Europe.

The initiative is "in response to His Majesty King Abdullah's recent instructions to the tourism sector", an RJ statement quoted CEO Haitham Misto as saying.

Misto said discounted prices are offered to tour operators bringing tourists to Jordan who will use RJ prices "in integrated tourist programmes as a package with accommodation, restaurants, transportation and monument entries" to encourage groups to visit the Kingdom.

"These affordable prices will contribute in collaboration with incoming tour operators to bring tourists [into] the country, bolstering the efforts of concerned sectors, foremost among them the Ministry of Tourism and the Jordan Tourism Board [JTB]," the statement said.

The airline recently offered the JTB 140 free tickets to invite international media representatives and global TV channels to visit the Kingdom and highlight its security and stability, as well as the diversity of its tourism product, the statement said. 

RJ said it also supports social media activists and bloggers who promote Jordan abroad.

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Wednesday said Jordan has much to offer visitors in terms of history, culture, nature, adventure, health and wellness, and religious tourism.

“There is something for everyone!” Her Majesty told a group of global journalists and social media representatives visiting Jordan on a press trip hosted by the Tourism Ministry in coordination with the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB).

The Queen spoke about Jordanian hospitality and the warmth of its people, according to a statement from her office. 

In Jordan, she said, “a tourist is a guest.” 

Her Majesty also stressed the importance of human interaction during travel.

“At the end of the day, visiting a different country is not just an opportunity to open your eyes to new places, but to open your mind to new people.” 

Queen Rania highlighted that travellers are “the best ambassadors for tolerance” and that they can help challenge stereotypes of Arabs and Muslims, particularly during current times. 

 She pointed out that travellers “are also the best storytellers”, encouraging the group to share their stories of Jordan and tell the world that the Kingdom is a safe, warm and welcoming country.

The Queen addressed the group at an event held at the Royal Automobile Museum (RAM) in Amman, attended by Tourism Minister Nayef Al Fayez, JTB Director General Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, Royal Heritage Directorate Director Raja Gargour and RAM Director Mohammad Abu Seir, the statement said. 

Fayez, who also spoke at the event, welcomed the guests, highlighting that this trip is in line with the ministry’s policy of promoting Jordan globally through various media outlets while exposing their representatives to all that it has to offer. 

Her Majesty spoke with attendees and heard about their experiences and impressions about the various tourist and historic sites they visited.

SALT — Nominating Salt for UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list will positively reflect on the city in terms of its economy and tourism, Municipal Affairs Minister Walid Masri said Tuesday.

At a ceremony held by the Greater Salt Municipality to launch its request for nomination, Masri praised the efforts of all stakeholders in preparing the application.

Salt Mayor Khalid Khashman said the city has a good chance to be nominated due to its unique historical sites.

AMMAN — The government is "seriously" considering floating auto insurance premiums for compulsory third party liability (TPL), while setting the maximum price that companies cannot exceed, according to the Trade Ministry and the insurance federation.

The move will be taken as part of recommendations made by a World Bank delegation that visited the country recently, according to Jordan Insurance Federation (JIF) President Othman Bdeir on Tuesday.

"The delegates were surprised by the current compulsory insurance system and how it contradicts the principles of a free economy," Bdeir told The Jordan Times, noting that the recommendation was raised to the Trade Ministry.

"People should be free to choose the insurance company they want and corporations have the right to compete among themselves," he said, adding that an open market for insurance services will encourage competition.

The Trade Ministry will refer the recommendation to the Prime Ministry soon, according to Bdeir.

Trade Ministry Spokesperson Yanal Barmawi said the ministry is "seriously" studying the issue before taking it through the required legal channels.

JIF has been calling for the liberalisation of prices for the past few years and it reached an agreement with the government on full liberalisation of the insurance service in 2013, a decision that was supposed to go into effect in 2014 but did not.

Over the past few years, three insurance firms have quit the market and another three have stopped offering car insurance services due to continuous losses, Bdeir said in previous remarks to The Jordan Times, expecting more companies to follow the suit if TPL prices do not increase.

Insurance firms lose around JD10 million annually due to TPL insurance, according to the JIF president. 

He pointed that "when insurance firms quit the market, they do not pay compensation to their clients, an issue the federation cannot resolve.” 

AMMAN — The Senate Arab, International and Expatriates’ Affairs Committee on Tuesday received a delegation from the US National War College, which is currently visiting the Kingdom.

Committee Chairman Senator Samir Rifai briefed the delegates on regional conditions during the past four years.

Rifai said Jordan has maintained its security and stability amidst a turmoil-hit region.

AMMAN — HRH Princess Basma, president of the National Goodwill Campaign’s higher committee, on Monday stressed the importance of the medical sector’s humanitarian role and its support for the campaign’s activities, run by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development.

At a meeting with the president and council members of the Jordan Medical Association (JMA), Princess Basma praised the efforts of doctors participating in medical field activities and the services they provide to citizens.

She said doctors’ participation in free medical days contributes to alleviating the suffering of families across the Kingdom and improving their health conditions, stressing the goodwill campaign’s keenness to continue its partnership with JMA.

The princess praised the role of professional associations in developing the capabilities of their members, in addition to their keenness to improve services offered to citizens.

JMA President Hashem Abu Hassan said doctors’ contribution to the goodwill campaign's activities is part of their responsibility towards the community.

Abu Hassan added that the campaign reaches the Kingdom’s villages, badia areas and refugee camps to help needy families, which sets a model for charitable, voluntary and humanitarian work at the local and regional levels.

AMMAN — The Senate Energy Committee on Tuesday discussed a draft law ratifying an agreement for oil exploration, evaluation, and production between the Natural Resources Authority (NRA) and Ammonite Energy International Inc.

in Jafer and central Jordan.

The committee approved the draft law after amending its first article, delegating the Energy Ministry to sign the agreement on behalf of the government instead of the NRA.

DUBAI — Wherever refugees are, they need education and they seek to get it, and “we have to empower them by providing the best tools and means,” HRH Prince Hassan said Tuesday.

In a keynote address at the 12th Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development (DIHAD) Conference and Exhibition, Prince Hassan said the Arab region is facing a humanitarian existential crisis which creates challenges and threats, most important of which is the increasing number of refugees.

In this regard, he called for investing in flexibility and determination, in addition to working on cooperation mechanisms to guarantee and sustain regional stability without considering the refugee crisis from a purely statistical perspective.

HRH Princess Haya inaugurated DIHAD, which will continue until Thursday, and is held under the patronage of  Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum — vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai.

Prince Hassan said it is the next generations that matter and the conference represents a good opportunity to help and empower their future.

Around 396 specialised companies representing 66 countries, in addition to regional and international relief experts are taking part in this year’s DIHAD.

Inaugurating the conference, Princess Haya highlighted the great responsibility that all share to improve the lives of humans, referring to the model the UAE presents in this field.

She said communities bear the responsibility of creating economic opportunities by giving greater attention to education, health and social services, encouraging creativity and finding proper economic mechanisms that would enhance growth rates.

There are 835 million people suffering chronic hunger, and 2 billion others suffering undernourishment and anaemia around the world, Princess Haya noted, calling for action programmes that guarantee increasing the efficiency of relief aid to create productive communities instead of aid-recipient ones.

AMMAN — The Kingdom is scheduled to host the “Jordan International Energy Summit and Exhibition” (JIES) on May 19 and 20 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, according to a statement sent to The Jordan Times.

The conference is expected to attract around 500 senior executives working in the sector, the statement said.

The Energy Ministry said all section heads will be available during the conference to meet with domestic and international companies.

Firms will also have the opportunity to exhibit their products and services directly to the targeted audience, according to the statement.

AMMAN — The Public Security Department (PSD) said on Tuesday that the road leading to Sweileh’s Kamaliyeh Bridge on the way to Salt will be closed at 10pm on Thursday until next Tuesday.

The road leading to Sweileh will be closed at 10pm next Tuesday until April 4 for maintenance, according to the PSD.

Detours will be available during the maintenance period.