Travel enthusiasts harness social media to revive tourism in Jordan

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) AMMAN � As the Eid Al Fitr holiday is approaching, travel enthusiasts have welcomed the recent government decision to lower tourist entry fees for Arab nationals to be equal to that for Jordanian citizens.Abdelrahman Al Muhid, the founder of the ''Let's Go to Jordan'' campaign, said: ''Jordan has a great reputation abroad and many people from Gulf countries are expected to visit Jordan.''Muhid, a Jordanian residing in Kuwait, said that this decision will contribute to reviving tourism in the summer. When asked about how he runs his promotional tourism campaign while residing in a foreign country, Muhid said that social media plays a huge role.''Tourism feeds into the rest of the sectors in the country. It boosts markets and supports local businesses and the economy in general,'' he told The Jordan Times over the phone.''During the uncertain times of the pandemic, people are seeking refuge in domestic tourism as a stress-relieving and refreshing activity,'' Dolly Dib, a travel blogger told The Jordan Times.''We take for granted a lot of things that foreigners enjoy when they visit the country, local tourism gives you a great sense of appreciation for the sites you visit,'' she added. Social media also offers a platform for tourist guides, who have been reeling from the impact of the pandemic crisis on the sector.''Social media allowed us to collaborate with travel bloggers who are looking for ways to promote Jordan and access its sites during the pandemic,'' said Fadi Abu Jaber, a Jordanian tour guide''We serve as connectors between visitors and local businesses and help tourists arrange accommodation and transportation in a way that enriches their experiences,'' Abu Jaber told The Jordan Times.Expatriates in the Kingdom are also contributing to the promotion of domestic tourism.''I started documenting my travels when I moved abroad with the aim of capturing the beautiful memories of my life as an expat,'' said Natalie Snider, Co-Founder & Director of ''Coulture Trips''.''Social media has been especially helpful during the pandemic for people to live vicariously when they cannot travel themselves,'' Snider, a US citizen, told The Jordan Times.Kasem Hato, a full-time traveller and travel content creator, seeks to enrich Arabic content in tourism.''I believe that before embarking on a journey outside one's country, one must discover his/her own,'' Hato told The Jordan Times.''Many people dream of visiting Jordan, we must use the privilege of being here already and try to see the beauty our country offers,'' he added.MENAFN10052021000028011005ID1102060678