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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Malaysia is looking at Jordan in its efforts to entice more tourists from the Middle East, Tourism Malaysia Director-General, Datuk Seri Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, said.

He said that since both countries were moving towards improving tourist arrivals, it would be a good time to target tourists from Jordan, which has shared diplomatic relations with Malaysia since 1965.

Another positive factor for bilataral tourism was when the Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ), the Kingdom's flag carrier, recommenced its operations to Kuala Lumpur in 2010, he said on the sidelines of the Jordan Tourism Business dinner co-organised by the Jordan's embassy in Kuala Lumpur and Jordan Tourism Board (JTB), here Monday

The airline suspeneded its operations in 2004.

"With the recommenced three direct weekly flights to Malaysia, I think Jordan can be one good prospect to promote bilateral tourism," he said.

Touching on places to visit in Jordan, he said that Malaysians should see for themselves the major tourist attractions like the archaeological site of Petra, the Dead Sea and unspoiled natural locations like the Wadi Rum.

Meanwhile Charge D' Affaires of the Jordanian embassy here, Dr Maen Masadeh, said that since both countries wanted to improve tourist arrivals, there were plenty of rooms for collaboration in this area, which could further enhance the current bilateral ties.

"I had some discussions with Jordanian tour operators, who are ready to cooperate in new challenges such as umrah and haj visa fees," he said in his speech.

Masadeh noted that there were many positive developments in the tourism area, including the free visa on arrival for Malaysians, meaning there was no need to waste time or money for visas.

According to JTB, up to August this year, 11,030 Malaysians visited Jordan while last year, 17,562 Malaysians visited the kingdom, a slight decrease compared to 2014, which recorded 24,042.

Jordan, with a population of about 9.5 million is defined by ancient monuments, nature reserves and seaside resorts. It borders Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Syria by land and Egypt by sea.

Jordan's main exports are textiles, potassium, phosphates, fertilisers, vegetables and pharmaceutical products while it imports mainly machinery and transport equipment, fuels, food, manufactured chemicals and electrical machines.

*Bernama