Tourism Cares and Jordan Promote Local, Sustainable Travel
by Richard D’Ambrosio /
Tourism Cares and the Jordan Tourism Board are promoting local enterprises and experiences in an effort to encourage immersive experiences that support local communities and help preserve historic sites and Jordanian culture.
A new website promotes the “Meaningful Travel Map of Jordan,” which includes 12 experiences offered by a nonprofit organization or a social enterprise that, “in addition to providing a quality cultural experience for travelers, also has a program for directly benefiting a disadvantaged population.”
Most of the sites are located along the 650-mile Jordan Trail, with destinations like the Ammarin Bedouin Camp, housed in an amphitheater of sand and hills ten minutes from Little Petra. The camp offers activities for guests that immerse them in the culture, nature and history of the area.
Included elsewhere are experiences provided by small businesses and non-profits, like the Bani Hamida Women’s Weaving Project; the Feynan Ecolodge; and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, which offers hiking, cycling, safaris and visits to local villages.
Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities hopes travelers will combine travel experiences such as these with their trips to Amman and Jordan’s popular tourism destinations like Petra and Wadi Rum.