Fayez highlights Jordan’s tourism efforts at Riyadh travel summit

AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, Tourism Minister Nayef Fayez on Tuesday participated in the 22nd World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Participating in a discussion panel that was held on the sidelines of the summit, titled: "A comprehensive and supporting work system”, Fayez said that the tourism sector can support individuals better when the sector is flourishing, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He stressed the need to maintain the sector's activity and momentum as it was in 2019, as well as ensuring its growth to benefit all segments of society, including women, persons with disabilities and local communities.

The minister said that His Majesty King Abdullah and HRH Crown Prince Hussein attach great importance to the tourism sector and have always directed the government to develop and diversify the tourism product, strengthen partnerships with the private sector and join efforts among stakeholders to maintain the sustainability of the tourism sector and enhance its competitiveness.

Fayez also spoke about top measures that the government implemented to preserve the sustainability of the sector and protect workers while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and during the recovery period, such as launching government programmes to avoid layoffs, reduce taxes, pump liquidity into the sector and grant licensing and rent exemptions.

Fayez stressed the government’s "firm belief" in the importance of partnership with all institutions of the private sector, noting that the private sector had been fully involved in preparing the National Tourism Strategy 2021-2025 and the development of the Economic Modernisation Vision 2033.

He added that the ministry constantly reviews all laws related to the tourism sector to remove obstacles to "doing business" and encourage investments in the Kingdom, adding that the ministry also cooperates with stakeholders to facilitate access to Jordan.

Fayez also said that the ministry has prepared a plan to boost women's participation in the tourism sector to help them overcome challenges and reach solutions to obstacles facing women working in the sector.