Know Your Market to Grow Your Market tourism seminar series continues
Amman–The ‘Know Your Market to Grow Your Market’ tourism seminar series, which is being implemented by USAID Jordan Tourism Development Project (Siyaha) and the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB), continued today with a seminar on the Russian and Indian markets. Representatives from Jordan’s tourism sector gained insight into these two key markets, learned of current travel trends and ways to develop these markets. The event is supported by Royal Jordanian airlines as an official carrier.
"This workshop series is in line with MoTA and JTB plans to increase awareness of Jordan as an international tourism destination within different niche markets by developing the country’s existing tourism potential and tapping into opportunities that will help the tourism sector recover and achieve growth. We also seek to increase tourism promotion and maintain Jordan’s reputation among international tour operators as a unique destination, and attract more tour groups to Jordan," said H.E. Nayef Humeidi Al-Fayez, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities and JTB Board Chairman.
“Despite recent challenges, tourism is, and will continue to be, a long-term driver of economic growth in Jordan,” said Paul Brunning - USAID Director of Economic Growth. In his remarks at the event, he emphasized that, “This seminar series offers tourism and hospitality professionals insight into Jordan’s main source tourism markets, highlighting the opportunities for Jordan as a destination in a rapidly changing travel environment. The seminar provides insights into developing large countries that will become key source markets of tourists coming to Jordan in the future.”
Mr. Hussein Dabbas, President and CEO of Royal Jordanian, said, “As Jordan’s national carrier, RJ is aware of the importance of tourism as one of the country’s main GDP earners and of the role RJ plays through its global reach in promoting and supporting tourism and trade between Jordan and the world, including India and Russia, both of which can be reached through direct RJ flights. Royal Jordanian has been flying to Russia since 1986 and to India since 1988.”
International market experts from the Russian and Indian tourism industries shared knowledge and research on tourism from each of these key source country markets, such as: traveler attitudes and demands, growth market segment opportunities, and opportunities specific to Jordan, such as the Russian religious market and the Indian incentive niches. The experts provided insights on accessing these key markets and converting opportunities to bookings while also providing advice on how to overcome the impacts of regional events on tourist arrivals and drive these market segments back into Jordan. The workshop also focused on engaging and closing business online and how to convert consumers into visitors.
The Know Your Market to Grow Your Market series was launched in October 2010 and to date the workshops have covered the British, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch and USA markets. Upcoming events within this series will cover France and Austria.