Ammon News - Minister of Interior Mazen Faraya on Sunday announced a set of new regulations removing entry bans and restrictions on arrivals from some countries in a move, the minister said, is designed to propel tourism growth, Jordan News Agency Petra reported.

According to the new regulations, arrivals from Albania and Moldova can apply for entry visa through Jordan's diplomatic missions abroad or through border posts upon arrival without the need for the interior ministry's prior approvals.

Tourist groups from previously-restricted nationalities, including Nigerian, Filipino, Colombian and Pakistani, are now allowed to enter the Kingdom without prior approvals, provided that they enter within a tourist group of no less than five people and under a valid tourist program. Also, their arrival and departure should be governed by a valid manifest along with guarantees of departure from tourist offices. Libyan tourist groups can also enter the Kingdom under the same conditions.

Meanwhile, Syrian tourist groups are allowed to enter the country after travel agents submit an application to the Ministry of Interior and that they are required to pledge that these groups would abide by the pre-prepared itinerary, and to hand their passports to their travel agent until they depart the country.