News from Jordan Tourist Board. February 2011

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· Do not buy rocks or pottery: Keep your souvenirs eco-friendly. Picking up or buying rock fragments encourages vendors to break pieces off the monuments to sell to tourists.

· Do not buy antiquities: Stick to the law: buying antiquities is illegal.

· Please refrain from picking flowers or plants: Conserve the natural flora of Petra by not picking flowers and plants.

· Do not write, touch or scrape the walls: Sandstone is very sensitive; ancient treasures can easily be destroyed.

· Stay on trails, rocks can fall easily: To stay safe, keep to the main tracks and paths, and seek assistance from rangers, tourist police and guides as necessary.

· Do not sit or climb on the rocks: Protect the monuments from erosion by not leaning, sitting or climbing on them.

JTBNA Quick Updates 

JTBNA would like to congratulate Mrs. Malia Asfour on being appointed as a new director on the board of the  National Tourism Association, Services Inc. (NTASI). 

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VISA Fees to Jordan Increase as of January 1, 2011

Single entry (one time visit only): JD20 / US$30

Double entry (up to two visits only): JD32 / US$45

Multiple entry: JD60 / US$85
 

Visas have to be paid in the local currency at all entry points unless issued by the Jordanian Embassy or Consulate in your country. Single & Double entry visas are valid for 3 months from the date of issue and Multiple entry visas are valid for 6 months from the date of issue. A departure tax of 5 JD is paid at any border crossing except at the airports. Visas for groups of 5 or more are free of charge provided that they are booked through a Jordanian Tour Operator.

Currency exchange kiosks are available at all entry points. Please NOTE that additional fees are incurred if visas are obtained through a Jordanian Embassy or Consulate. 

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Jordan Tourism Revenue Rises 17% in 2010, Jordan Times Reports

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 King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center in Jordan Relaunched Under Hilton Hotels and Resort Brand Management

Hilton Worldwide has commenced management of Jordan’s Dead Sea King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre, one of the largest convention centre’s in the Middle East region. The reflagged convention centre will now operate under the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand.

With almost 5,000 m² of meeting space and 23,000 m² of build-up area spread over 25 conference and meeting rooms and three floors, King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre is one of the largest in the region. It can accommodate approximately 5000 guests. 

Hilton Worldwide manages the Convention Centre through an agreement with Dead Sea Resorts PSC Company. The Convention Centre is adjacent to the 285-room Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa that is currently under development and is scheduled to open in Q4 2014. 

As part of Jordan’s strategy to capture MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions) business, the convention centre has hosted and will host international conferences such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2007, 2009 and May 2011, the International Monetary Fund, as well as local and regional conferences, workshops and exhibitions. With fully-equipped conference and meeting halls that vary in size and capacity, the centre is able to accommodate numerous events with different capacity requirements simultaneously.

KHBTCC has dedicated itself to achieve, encourage and set a local and regional benchmark for excellence in managing and attracting significant international, regional and local conventions, trade-shows, educational, cultural and social functions as well as other events to its world-class facilities, while maximizing the benefits for the Jordanian economy and local businesses.

KHBTCC will further strengthen the Hilton portfolio in Jordan, becoming the first project managed by the Hilton brand in Jordan, as one of five other new developments for Hilton Worldwide in the country. KHBTCC will join three new Hilton brand hotels in Aqaba, Amman and Dead Sea areas as well as the first Doubletree by Hilton hotel in Aqaba.