Jarash set to undergo transformation
Amman– This morning the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA), USAID Jordan Tourism Development Project (Siyaha), Institut Francais du Proche-Orient (IFPO) and Monumenta Orientalia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to implement a plan to revamp Jarash. The plan aims to enhance facilities and services at the site and further improve conservation of the delicate archaeology. The agreement was signed by H.E. Nayef Al Fayez, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Paul Brunning, USAID Economic Growth Office Director, and H.E. Ms. Corinne Breuzē, Ambassador of France to Jordan.
According to the minister, the local community can play a big part in these efforts, as he said, “One of our priorities in developing Jarash is the local community, who are an important part of this significant archaeological site and can help to protect it. Jarash attracts more than 400,000 visitors from around the world each year, and this is a great opportunity for the community in terms of increasing jobs and contributing to livelihoods, so we want to make sure that the local community will benefit from the development of the site.”
The plan for transforming the visitor experience at the Jarash archaeological site outlines ways to attract more visitors, increase their length of stay and spending, and benefit the local community in the surrounding modern city. This comes as part of a MoTA initiative to transform Jordan’s key archaeological sites into better conserved and properly serviced and presented sites.
The site improvement plan for Jarash was developed in partnership with international and Jordanian archaeology and tourism expertise from the USAID Jordan Tourism Development Project (Siyaha). It entails several elements, including conservation and presentation of the site; introducing signage and attractive interpretation; expanding retail opportunities by transforming the existing handicraft souk; introducing rest areas and food and beverage outlets; hosting special events under strict guidelines; supporting new tourism-related business start-ups; and increasing awareness among the local community about tourism, how they can be involved, benefit and help develop it. The plan also identifies ways to promote the site of Jarash, both locally and internationally.
“USAID views this initiative as another important facet of the partnership with the ministry to enhance the conservation and presentation of Jordan’s cultural heritage for tourism development and local community benefit,” said Paul Bruning from USAID.
“Jarash is the best preserved provincial Roman city in the world, and has significant relics from the Byzantine and Ottoman periods as well,” added Minister Al-Fayez. The site offers great potential for development to present a great part of the history of Jordan and attract greater tourist numbers in order to boost the local economy.
“We are happy to be part of this effort, and build on our work with Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities throughout the years, to discover more about this historic place and to help preserve it,” said H.E. Ms. Corinne Breuzē, Ambassador of France to Jordan.
The ministry has prioritized tourism site enhancement as a key activity in its plans.