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LETTER FROM
THE DIRECTOR
Dear Members
and Friends,
During a
Royal visit
to Brazil,
Argentina,
and Chile,
their
Majesties
King
Abdullah II
and Queen
Rania Al
Abdullah have
opened a
valuable
door to an
exceptionally
unique and
valuable
market.
The size of
the Southern
American
continent,
its
demographic
components,
and the
diversity of
its cultures
can only
underline
the untapped
potential
for stronger
cooperation
and
exchanges.
Last year,
Brazil’s
exports to
Jordan stood
at $232
million
while its
imports from
Jordan were
a little
over $7
million. The
trade
imbalance is
also in
favor of
Argentina,
which last
year
exported $67
million
worth of
goods to
Jordan,
while its
imports from
the Kingdom
stood at $1
million.
Tourism can
play a
potentially
strategic
role in
boosting
exchanges
with the
Latin
American
continent in
general and
Brazil,
Argentina,
and Chile in
particular.
After taking
part in the
Royal tour
and meeting
with
industry
peers and
representatives,
I can not
stress
enough how
important
this market
can be to a
country like
Jordan
especially
with more
direct
flights to
the region.
Think of 12
million
Brazilians,
or the
combination
of Brazil
and
Argentina,
who along
with
Paraguay and
Uruguay,
constitute
75% of the
entire
continent’s
GDP.
Despite the
geographical
distance, we
realize the
importance
of our
region to
places like
Brazil and
Argentina,
where a
large
immigrant
community
has resided
since the
dawn of the
20th century
or even
before, and
where
Catholic
interest in
the Holy
Land is
high.
Back in
Amman, we
are keeping
a close look
at the state
of the
global
economy. We
are trying
to evaluate
the impact
of the
financial
crisis on
global
tourism, and
measure any
changes to
the numbers
and patterns
of people
visiting
Jordan,
which I am
glad to
report that
they remain
unaffected.
In the next
few days
Petra will
welcome and
host 50
ladies named
after the
ancient
Nabattean
city. The
German-speaking
Petras have
won a trip
of a
lifetime to
one of the
world’s
seven
wonders
after taking
part in an
on-line
competition.
We look
forward to
their visit.
Welcome to
this new
edition of
JTBwire.
Nayef
Al-Fayez
Managing
Director
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bilateral agreements marked the first royal visit by His majesty King Abdullah II to Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. 
