Al-Qaisi explained that funds have been allocated to rehabilitate the visitor center and health facilities at the site, in addition to establishing a huge gate at the entrance to Umm al-Jimal in cooperation with the municipality, and the Department of Antiquities will draw paths inside the site, and 10 specialized tourist guides will be trained at the site with funding from the ministry.

He further explained that marketing and promotion of Umm al-Jimal will be intensified through the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB), in addition to filming a 30-minute documentary video translated into several languages about the history of the site, as well as short videos about Umm Al-Jimal and its local community.

He stressed that the inclusion of Umm Al-Jimal will contribute to increasing the number of visitors to the city in particular, and Jordan in general, noting that the number of visitors to the site through the Urdun Jannah (Our Jordan is Paradise) program during the first half of this year reached 9,700 visitors.

Al-Q
aisi pointed out that the Ministry of Tourism will organize major promotional campaigns for the site and many events to attract tourists and investors, praising the true partnership and cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism, Umm Al-Jimal Municipality and the Department of Public Antiquities in preparing Umm Al-Jimal’s listing file.

Al-Qaisi highlighted several archaeological discoveries in Jordan, such as the first loaf of bread that was produced 14,000 years ago, the statue of Ain Ghazal “the largest human statue” 9,000 years ago, and some archaeological sites such as Petra, Al-Maghtas and others.

“We have included a group of elements on the World Intangible Heritage List, namely Mansaf in 2022, Samer in 2018, and the Bedouins in Petra and Wadi Rum in 2008,” he said, explaining the importance of including the Mansaf dish on the list, as Mansaf expresses Jordanian generosity and hospitality, as well as expressing Jordanian identity.

Source: Jordan News Agency