USAID BEST supports JETT to start ten new tourist excursions

AMMAN (June 2, 2016) – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a grant to the Jordan Express Tourist Transportation Company (JETT) to support the development of ten new bus excursions to some of Jordan’s unique and amazing destinations. JETT will operate the new excursions on a daily basis from its stations in Amman; including trips to Madaba, Ajloun, Jerash, Maen, the Dead Sea, and Berqesh. JETT will also introduce tourism circuits from the Dead Sea to the Baptism Site, a ‘Golden Triangle’ circuit connecting Aqaba, Wadi Rum and Petra, and city tours in Amman and Madaba. USAID support to JETT will help provide both locals and visitors with reliable, affordable and convenient tours to popular destinations around Jordan.

JETT also intends to provide audio interpretation on its buses to enrich visitors’ experiences. USAID’s Building Economic Sustainability through Tourism Project (BEST) will develop the interpretation material for the new routes and help develop a GPS-triggered commentary system that passengers can operate through a mobile application. USAID BEST will also help promote the new scheduled tours by upgrading JETT’s website and reservation system and developing a marketing, outreach and sales plan for the company.

Director of USAID’s Economic Development and Energy Office, Russell Bauer, said: “USAID support is helping JETT offer reliable excursions all year round to a number of tourism destinations, which will enable greater numbers of visitors to reach new areas, increase income for service providers and create job opportunities in local businesses catering to this increased demand.”

Malek Haddad, General Manager of JETT, noted at the grant signing ceremony: “JETT is providing visitors with guaranteed, cost effective tours as well as an interactive tourism experience. All passengers will come to enjoy quality interpretation available on their journeys, as well as interactions with local communities at our destinations, which include famous cultural and heritage sites. Locals will be just as pleased with our new destinations as international tourists, as we have added popular locations such as Ajloun, Madaba and the Dead Sea which were not previously easy to reach without a car.”

The Jordan Express Tourist Transportation Company was established in 1964 to provide valuable historical and cultural experiences to Jordanian and international visitors. JETT’s fleet of 200 buses operates daily and offers seasonal tours and trips from Amman and elsewhere around the country. The USAID Building Economic Sustainability through Tourism Project works closely with government, non-government and private sector tourism stakeholders to establish Jordan as a globally competitive tourism destination. The United States government, through USAID, has provided foreign assistance from the American people to Jordan for more than 60 years.