He added that Balqa Governorate possesses a tourism diversity that provides visitors with multiple experiences, led by the city of As-Salt with its distinctive historical and urban heritage, old markets, museums, and heritage sites that embody the features of social and cultural life that contributed to shaping its identity, in addition to religious, natural, and rural sites that enhance its tourism appeal.
He emphasized that the impact of the "Our Jordan is a Paradise" program is not limited to increasing the number of visitors, but extends to driving the local economy by stimulating demand for the services of restaurants, hotels, tourism and travel agencies, and shops, and opening wider horizons for artisans and small business owners to market their products and benefit from tourism activity.
He explained that the participation of local tourism establishments and tour guides from the governorate, as well as those working in traditional crafts and industries, represents an important pillar in strengthening the role of the local community in the tourism sector and expanding the scope of its benefit from the economic opportunities provided by this activity.
Arabiyat pointed to the importance of developing tourism products and trails in Balqa, in a way that connects the center of As-Salt city with the governorate's heritage, religious, natural, and rural sites, and provides visitors with integrated experiences that combine discovering historical and cultural landmarks with learning about local cuisine and handicrafts.
He indicated that developing these trails would encourage visitors to explore multiple tourist destinations within the governorate, extend the duration of their visits, and increase tourism spending, which positively reflects on tourism establishments and small projects, and contributes to providing broader economic opportunities for members of local communities.
He stressed the importance of continuing coordination and cooperation between the authorities concerned with the tourism sector, local establishments, artisans, and tour guides to improve the level of services and develop the experiences offered to visitors, in a way that enhances the sustainability of tourism activity and raises the competitiveness of Balqa Governorate on the domestic tourism map.
Arabiyat confirmed that the historical, cultural, and natural components enjoyed by the governorate constitute an opportunity to enhance its position as an integrated tourist destination, noting that continuing to develop services and tourism trails and expanding the participation of the local community would maximize the economic return of tourism and consolidate its role in supporting local development.
