Amman, 15 December 2015
The Public Security Department in cooperation with the German Jordanian University organized a workshop entitled “Friends of the Tourist Police”, which aims at building up bridges of communication between the Department and the public and private sectors. It also aims at training the youth on issues that concern tourism and explore different cooperation fields.
In the presence of Major General Atef Al Saudi , the Public Security Director and GJU’s Vice President, Prof. Manar Fayyad, the opening session started off with a short documentary movie about the Tourist Police Department, explaining its role in protecting the main touristic points throughout Jordan and it’s services, some of which include first aid, helping foreigners and locals with maps and locations, providing useful information about the main attractions, all in accordance with His Majesty’s vision.
Prof. Manar extended her gratitude for choosing GJU as a place for this event. She also thanked all organizers and pointed out that such an event will help in promoting Jordan to the world, emphasizing the role that the youth play in the country.
Brigadier Hashem Al-Majali, Director of the Tourist Police Department, explained the vital role of the police and how that event would help develop tourism. He also discussed the cooperation between the department and different organizations to help market tourism in Jordan.
He also praised GJU and how it attracts foreigners to Jordan and its strategic location in the Madaba Governorate. Furthermore, he talked about the obstacles that Tourist Police Department faces and how they manage to overcome them, with the support of the government and its departments.
Mr. Michael Nazzal, President of the Jordanian Union of Touristic Societies expressed his admiration on the role that the Public Security Department plays in keeping the country safe. Mr. Nazzal said that Jordan’s 28.000 touristic points need to be marketed to the world and he highlighted the cultural, economic and social importance of such places. He talked about the religious tourism in the area, as Jordan holds important holy sites. He also expressed on the need to raise the quality and quantity of the services provided to reach a higher number of people.
Dr. Arabyiat, Director of Jordan Tourism Board discussed the importance of marketing tourism through organizing campaigns, events and social media channels. He welcomed the idea of having “friends” who help protect and deliver a positively message about touristic sites. He pointed out that the main obstacle Jordan faces in attracting tourists is the costs of traveling, but this is changing as the government is facilitating the entrance to the country by reducing taxes related to tourism, which include visa fees and costs related to entering sites.
Major Atef Al Saudi thanked the GJU administration for holding such events. He talked about the touristic sites that need development and new agreements with the public and private sectors. Mr. Al Saudi stated that Jordanians are always friendly to foreigners and that our hospitality towards foreigners will bring positive outcomes to the country, both cultural and economic. He talked about the universities that promote tourism through friends and contacts from outside the country, emphasizing on how GJU is a model in helping promoting tourism internationally through the incoming and outgoings students. He hopes that Innovative projects in collaboration with different organizations will make 2016 a special year in tourism.
At the end of the session, shields were distributed and exchanged between Prof. Manar and Major Atef, Mr. Mustafa Al-Ma’ay’ya, the Mayor of Madaba, Mrs. Hourani and Brigadier Majali.
