Tourism Deputy Minister holds contacts in Jordan to enhance cooperation

The strengthening of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and Jordan is also supportive in the field of tourism, as Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis has said.

He noted at the same time that there is great potential for strengthening cooperation between tourism partners of the two countries and that in the coming days after consultation with tourism actors in Cyprus they will propose to the Jordanian side a new integrated cooperation plan.

Koumis had a series of meetings in the Jordanian capital, Amman, as part of his visit to the country to further promote Cyprus with the opportunity of the addition of new air routes.

According to an announcement by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, from 13 June onwards, new routes from Jordan were added as the Royal Jordanian airlines will operate flights from Amman to the airport in Paphos twice a week, strengthening its flight schedule to Cyprus as it already operates flights to the airport in Larnaca four to six times a week.

As part of his visit to Jordan, the Deputy Minister of Tourism held a meeting with his Jordanian counterpart, Jordan's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Makram Queisi, with whom they discussed matters of further strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Koumis also had a meeting with senior officials of the Royal Jordanian airlines led by CEO Samer Majali, with senior officials of the Jordan Tourism Board, as well as a meeting with the Archbishop of Kyriakoupolis (Jordan) Christoforos, with whom they discussed developing religious tourism between Cyprus and Jordan.

In the framework of the Cypriot delegation’s visit, an event was also held, jointly organised by Deputy Ministry of Tourism and Royal Jordanian airlines, where Cyprus was presented to industry professionals, as well as to Jordanian journalists.

In statements, after the completion of his meetings in Amman, Koumis said that "Jordan is a country geographically very close to our country, with which we are connected by many things" and added that "in addition to the good relations between the two peoples, diplomatic relations between the two countries have admittedly improved in recent years, something which is also evident in meetings with tourism partners”.

The Deputy Tourism Minister welcomed addition of new routes by Royal Jordanian, and expressed optimism that the increase recorded in recent years by the Jordanian market will continue.

"I believe that there is great scope for strengthening the cooperation between the tourism partners of the two countries and I personally believe very much in the creation of joint tourist packages" he said, explaining that although this is an issue that was discussed in the past, they decided to raise it again during the meeting with his Jordanian counterpart, and noted that in the next few days following consultation with the tourism partners in Cyprus, they will propose a new comprehensive cooperation plan to the Jordanian side.

(Source: CNA)