USAID Launches Three New Tourism Initiatives
Amman – At a ceremony held this morning hosted by USAID Acting Administrator Alonzo Fulgham and H.E. Ms. Maha Khatib, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, USAID launched its new tourism initiative designed to support the tourism industry in Jordan and improve its competitiveness. Under the new initiative, USAID will provide support for three new projects over the coming five years. The projects, which together make up a total of $38.3 million, build on America’s decade long support for Jordan’s tourism sector and its successful partnership with the Jordanian government and local organizations and communities to strengthen tourism as priority growth sector in Jordan’s economy.
The first project, the Jordan Tourism Development Project II, will work closely with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and other stakeholders to develop key tourism products and destinations in Jordan and strengthen the capacity of tourism institutions to lead and guide the sector. The second is the Nature-Driven Rural Development in the Southern Region Project, which will link three of Jordan’s attractions – Petra, Dana and the newly protected area of Jebel Masuda – to form a world-class tourism complex. In the third project for Cultural and Environmental Tourism, the U.S. National Park Service will work with the Jordanian government and local communities on strengthening the capacity of cultural and environmental tourism sites to enhance the tourism experience while assuring that environmental, natural and cultural resources are protected.
The ceremony was also attended by H.E. Mr. R. Stephen Beecroft, U.S Ambassador to Jordan, and USAID Jordan Mission Director Mr. Jay Knott, as well as other USAID and Jordanian government officials, in addition to members of the tourism sector and beneficiaries of the USAID projects.
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