Aqaba, July 6 (Petra) -- The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) held an extensive meeting on Monday with representatives of the tourism sector to discuss an integrated plan to revitalize the sector.

The plan focuses on expanding the direct air link network, developing the tourism product, and enhancing marketing and tour packages in partnership with Royal Jordanian (RJ) and the private sector, with the aim of attracting more visitors and promoting Aqaba as a key regional and international destination.

Aqaba is a key national priority for inbound tourism, said Thabet Nabulsi, ASEZA Commissioner for Tourism and Youth Affairs.

He said today's meeting underlined the Authority's commitment to involving the private sector in shaping the next phase, listening to its feedback, and ensuring that flight, marketing, and incentive plans are turned into practical, marketable, and promotable programs in target markets.

Nabulsi announced a plan to launch direct Aqaba-Moscow flights in October, following new routes to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. The upcoming service, he said, is part of a larger plan to extend direct air links to key regional and international destinations.

Upcoming routes will connect to regional cities like Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Istanbul, and global markets including Moscow, Rome or Milan, Stockholm, Düsseldorf, Paris, and China, and weekly flights are set to scale up over the coming years, he said.

Karim Makhlouf, RJ Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), said the national carrier is enhancing its travel model to package flights with hotels, transport, and tours. To boost Aqaba's global reach, the carrier is using the ExploRJordan platform alongside tour operators and online booking sites to break into new tourism markets.

RJ is driving inbound tourism through expanding its network, modernizing its fleet, and refining the passenger experience to match the Kingdom's national tourism goals, said Makhlouf.

//Petra// HA