Amman, Dec. 24 (Petra) – Director General of the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) Ramzi Al-Maaytah said Jordan’s accession to the Global Entry program represents a qualitative step toward facilitating the movement of travelers to the United States.

According to a JTB statement on Wednesday, Al-Maaytah said the announcement by Jordan and the United States earlier this month of the Kingdom’s joining the program, which helps speed up entry procedures for member travelers upon arrival in the United States, will have significant positive tourism implications for Jordan.

He said the program reflects the depth of the Jordanian-American strategic partnership, noting that this achievement comes as a result of the wise royal vision and the efforts of His Majesty King Abdullah II to enhance Jordan’s international standing and support economic and tourism growth.

Al-Maaytah said the decision will grant Jordanian travelers to the United States important advantages, particularly as it comes ahead of the participation of the Jordan national football team in the World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Matches will be hosted in 11 US cities: Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, and New York.

He said Jordan’s accession to the global program is evidence of the international reputation Jordan enjoys as a stable country in the Middle East, which will be reflected in strengthening the confidence of travelers worldwide in Jordan as an integrated, safe and attractive tourism destination.

Al-Maaytah said the decision confirms Jordan’s high global standing through its commitment to the highest standards of safety, security and institutional governance, contributing to supporting the Jordan Tourism Board’s marketing and promotional efforts and enhancing the Kingdom’s global competitiveness.

He said the national carrier, Royal Jordanian, will benefit positively from the decision, as the number of Jordanian travellers expected to go to the United States is set to increase in the coming period due to the incentives provided by joining the Global Entry program, leading to a likely rise in the number of flights from Jordan to various US cities.

Al-Maaytah said the move will also positively enhance cooperation between Jordanian tourism companies and their counterparts in the United States and support the JTB's efforts to open new global markets for Jordan’s tourism product, particularly as accession sends a positive message to international markets that Jordan is a reliable tourism partner.

He said the program is available only to a limited number of Arab countries, placing Jordan in a distinguished strategic position on the regional and global tourism map, adding that facilitating entry procedures to the United States is not limited to regular travel but extends to enhancing access for participants and fans attending major global events, notably the football World Cup.

Al-Maaytah said these achievements come under the direct patronage of His Majesty the King and his keenness to support the national economy and revitalize the tourism sector, reflecting a leadership vision aimed at strengthening Jordan’s international standing.

The program allows Jordanians wishing to enter the United States a significant reduction in waiting times and expedited screening procedures upon arrival at US airports.

Global Entry is a US program that allows pre-approved travelers holding entry visas or permanent residency in the United States to speed up entry, customs and border control procedures upon arrival. Participants can bypass long queues and use designated electronic kiosks for fast and secure processing. The program is one of the travel facilitation schemes approved in a limited number of countries worldwide, including very few Arab states.

//Petra// AF