Jordan’s aspiring adventure guides take to Ajloun forests to learn safety, skills

AMMAN — Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Majd Shweikeh and Ambassador of France to Jordan Véronique Vouland-Aneini on Wednesday launched a training programme for adventure guides in Jordan at the Ajloun Forest Reserve in cooperation with the National School for Ski and Alpinism of Chamonix-France, the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and its operator the Jordan Tourism Board. 

More than 50 Jordanian guides, both men and women from around the Kingdom, will be trained in hiking, canyoning and climbing techniques during an 18-month curriculum delivered by mountaineering guides of the internationally recognised School of Chamonix located near Mont Blanc in the French Alps, according to a French embassy statement.

The training will also focus on security issues, protection of the environment and local heritage alongside technical and physical skills and upon completion, participants will earn a recognised certification, allowing locals to meet the needs of Jordanian and international tourists in terms of safety and skills, the statement said.

The tourism sector in Jordan is a major driver of economic growth in the country, and France, which receives millions of visitors every year, is proud to accompany Jordan in its endeavour to develop and professionalise the booming sector of adventure tourism, according to the statement. 

In line with the national youth employability strategy, France aims at consolidating its action in the tourism sector through this project, thus contributing to a “renewed dynamism” which will ultimately lead to the creation of more jobs in Jordan.

During the launch ceremony, the French Ambassador expressed her pride to see Jordanians from all over the Kingdom enrolled in this first training programme provided by the National School for Ski and Alpinism of Chamonix, “one of the best mountaineering schools worldwide”, the statement read.