Her Majesty Queen Rania said the Middle East was an attractive travel option for prospective tourists, and that Jordan was an über-tourist friendly destination.
 
In a keynote address at the second annual Condé Nast World Savers Congress in New York on September 23rd, Her Majesty said “as we develop our tourism sector, we want to transform Jordan from ‘a place to visit’ into ‘a place to experience’ where tourists stay longer, discover the out-of-the-way places that locals know and love, eat in the cafés where Jordanian families spend a Saturday afternoon, chat with village shopkeepers over some sweet mint tea, and discover our greatest natural asset of all: The warmth and hospitality of our people.”

The Queen was addressing an audience of hundreds of CEOs and travel industry leaders, and highlighted many of the unique experiences that travelers can explore in the region, from the “Desert Islands” eco-project in Abu Dhabi, to the sea life attractions in Oman, and the environment-friendly accommodations throughout Egypt.

 “With our Bedouin roots, Jordanians are famed for friendliness and generosity; in fact, hospitality is the highest Bedouin virtue there is,” she said.
“If you’re looking for a place to relax, the Dead Sea will make you feel more alive than ever,” she said. “It’s the lowest point on earth, with the highest oxygen content in the world… and is home to the region’s biggest spa.”
“If you want adventure, you can abseil down waterfalls, paraglide off sandstone crags, navigate Red Sea reefs, then cook supper deep in the desert sands of Wadi Rum,” she continued.
“If you’re a history buff, we’ve got Roman ruins and desert castles from the Umayyad times to explore, and our famous Nabatean city of Petra, carved out of red stone cliffs - where Indiana Jones’ escapades ended when he found the Holy Grail.”

Queen Rania also spoke with much pride of “the award-winning sustainable tourism and eco-tourism projects, which are helping us to both protect and promote the things that are most precious to us”, before announcing the establishment of nine more unique parks and woodland areas across Jordan.

“From Yarmouk in the north to the southern mountains of Aqaba, these parks will create wildlife corridors and sanctuaries for endangered plants. They’ll be looked after by local communities, who know the landscape better than anyone, and will offer visitors unique cultural experiences,” she said.