"Our Jordan is a Paradise".. strengthens Karak's presence on the domestic tourism map and supports the local economy

Citizen Ali Al-Mubaideen, a resident of Karak, said that the "Our Jordan is a Paradise" trips organized by the Ministry of Tourism at subsidized prices (including transportation and lunch) are not limited to being a means of entertainment for families, but have turned into a vital artery that revives archaeological sites, stimulates domestic tourism, and invigorates the details of life in the city of Karak.

He continued, "We are happy when we see tourist buses coming from the Kingdom's governorates filling the square of Karak Castle and its surroundings, as an indicator that points to an increase in the number of visitors, which supports tourist restaurants and the commercial sector within the city, which has been suffering from a state of stagnation due to economic conditions and the decline in tourism as a result of regional circumstances."

Citizen Ali Al-Majali emphasized that the program is one of the important paths supporting the sustainability of tourism and commercial activity in the governorate, calling for the continued development of the program and not treating it as a temporary option for the decline in foreign tourism, in addition to the importance of adjusting the path of tourist groups coming to Karak to include other areas within the governorate, which are rich in remarkable archaeological, heritage, and natural resources.

One of the participants in one of the trips coming from the capital, Amman, Ahmed Khalil, expressed his happiness with the experience, saying: "The program provided him and his family of (6) members the opportunity to visit Karak and learn about its historical landmarks and cultural heritage at an affordable cost that he would not have been able to secure if the trip were organized privately," praising the level of services provided, the readiness of the buses, and the role of the companions and tourist guides, which provided an enjoyable, safe, and organized travel experience that is worth repeating.

Hana Al-Bastanjeh, a representative and coordinator of domestic trips accredited to the "Our Jordan is a Paradise" program, said that the vast majority of the trips she organizes for tourist routes in the north, center, and south of the Kingdom included in the program, which are designated for women and sometimes receive families, are witnessing increasing demand, which enhances local development opportunities and makes domestic tourism a primary engine for the national economy in light of the continuous efforts to develop tourism infrastructure in Jordan.

Al-Bastanjeh praised the cooperation of the Ministry of Tourism and its facilitation through continuous coordination to facilitate the departure of trips and overcome any obstacle by taking notes and addressing them immediately to ensure the comfort and safety of travelers, calling for the reopening of one-day trips to the southern governorates to enable participants to visit more than one tourist site in those governorates and return on the same day, especially since many citizens do not prefer the overnight trips provided by the program due to the cost difference.

The head of the Tusharak Charitable Association in Al-Qatrana District, Khawla Bani Attia, said that the district, which is considered the gateway to Karak for those coming via the Desert Highway, possesses unique tourism and historical components that make it an indispensable main station on the domestic tourism map.

She praised the Ministry of Tourism's inclusion of Al-Qatrana on the "Our Jordan is a Paradise" trip route after implementing development projects that included restoring its castle, rehabilitating its facilities, and operating the visitor center to employ members of the local community, noting that integrating these sites into domestic tourism trips allows visitors to learn about the ancient cultural heritage of the region, and at the same time, supports women and productive families who find in this center a vital marketing window for their handmade and craft products.

Bani Attia called on citizens from various regions of the Kingdom to visit Al-Qatrana District and explore its historical treasures, stressing that concerted efforts between the Ministry of Tourism and local associations are the best way to achieve comprehensive and sustainable tourism development whose positive effects are reflected on the local community in the region.

On the other hand, owners of restaurants and tourist facilities in Karak see the program as a lifeline for tourist facilities in the governorate, especially in light of the challenges facing the tourism sector due to the current regional circumstances that have cast a shadow over foreign tourism and limited the flow of foreign tourist groups.

Firas Al-Mubaideen, owner of one of the tourist restaurants near the vicinity of Karak Castle, says: "There is no doubt that the arrival of 'Our Jordan is a Paradise' groups periodically to the city of Karak at subsidized prices that suit Jordanian families ensures continuous operation for restaurants and tourist shops, limits their losses, and supports the sustainability of the work of local staff whose income supports dozens of families."

He pointed out that the domestic tourism movement does not only play a role for tourist facilities, but also pushes the wheel of economic development forward by stimulating local markets, the transport sector, and small productive projects in local communities, stressing the readiness of tourist facilities and restaurants to provide the best services and authentic hospitality worthy of Karak's visitors and its people.

For his part, the Director of Tourism of Karak, Sateh Al-Musa'deh, told "Alrai" that "Our Jordan is a Paradise" aims to stimulate domestic tourism, empower local communities, and support the tourism sector in facing the challenges resulting from regional circumstances, noting that Karak Governorate, which is rich in diverse tourism components, falls within the program's paths that have been carefully designed to cover all governorates of the Kingdom and provide a unique experience at subsidized prices that allow everyone the opportunity to move around and enjoy organized tourism services.

Al-Musa'deh indicated that the program forms a basic pillar in supporting the sustainability of the tourism sector and stimulating economic movement in the targeted governorates by increasing the number of visitors and activating local service facilities, pointing to the continuous development in the program's paths, which have exceeded 60, in addition to introducing new technical features for booking to expand the umbrella of participants.

He stated that Karak Governorate has received (52,664) participants since the beginning of the year within the framework of the program's trips, while the number of people who participated in trips departing from Karak towards other governorates of the Kingdom included in the program reached (2,202) people.