The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MTA), with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), has prepared the “Strategic Environmental Assessment” study for Jordan’s National Tourism Strategy for 2021-2025, which was recently approved by the Cabinet.
Environmental, social and sustainability aspects are “effectively” taken into account in the national tourism strategy, which would ensure that its implementation will not harm the environment, but rather work to preserve the Kingdom’s environmental and natural resources, the study reads.
Speaking at the consultative meeting held Wednesday, the MTA Secretary-General, Dr. Imad Hijazin, said the study, which involved Jordan’s various stakeholders, gives credibility to the national tourism strategy at international arena, as well as in its implementation.
Hijazin added: “All stakeholders worked in partnership with tourist associations, relevant authorities in Aqaba and Petra and the private sector in preparing a viable tourism strategy, which includes several projects that are being implemented with specific timetables.”
The strategy, he said, includes a main pillar on heritage management and protection.
This study, which is being outlined in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, reflects the MTA’s interest in making the national tourism strategy “sustainable” and takes into account the environmental dimensions and impacts, he pointed out.
For his part, Director of the UNDP Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Program, Nidal Oran, said the study comes as a continuation of the previous cooperation with the MTA, lauding its existing and continuous cooperation with UNDP.
Oran said cooperation with Jordan’s MTA also includes a special training program for a number of ministries, concerned institutions and tourism directorates on the concept of strategic environmental impact assessment, to have a role in implementing the study’s outcomes.
Source: Jordan News Agency