Jordan, Palestine eye better cooperation in tourism

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and Palestinian officials on Monday discussed ways to promote religious tourism, and encourage visits to Islamic and Christian sites in the Palestinian territories and Jerusalem.

During a meeting with Ensour, Palestinian Tourism Minister Rula Maaya and Mahmoud Habbash, an adviser to the Palestinian president, highlighted the importance of joint programmes to increase religious tourism to Palestine via Jordan.

They said Jerusalem’s selection as capital of Islamic tourism for 2016 by the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation will encourage more people to visit Al Aqsa Mosque.

Also on Monday, Tourism Minister Nidal Katamine met with Maaya and discussed ways to boost cooperation, especially to promote religious tourism.

Katamine noted that a joint programme was prepared by the two ministries to attract pilgrims and tourists from around the world, particularly from Malaysia and Indonesia.