Arabian Nights

CRYSTAL Esprit, the award-winning boutique yacht of Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, will embark on a captivating new season of voyages through the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Oman and the Holy Land in October through December of 2019. The seven- to 11-day sailings will cruise the Arabian Peninsula, with immersive exploration of the ancient wonders and physics-defying modern marvels in the region. 

Overnights in Dubai and Abu Dhabi showcase the thriving riches of modern UAE culture, while a double overnight in Aqaba, Jordan, allows for visits to the legendary Rose City of Petra and Wadi Rum. New on the Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises roster of destinations are Doha, Qatar, where the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art and dramatic Sheikh Faisal Museum display the country’s fascinating heritage, and the excitement over the 2022 World Cup is already beginning to build; and Sokhna, Egypt, which offers Crystal guests a gateway to the remarkable pyramids of Giza, just 60 miles away from Cairo, and the soon-to-be-opened archaeological Grand Egyptian Museum.

 Crystal Esprit embarks on her new Arabian Nights Collection on October 20, 2019, with all-inclusive luxuries tailored to accommodate just 62 guests. 

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Jordan and Israel by pedal power

SPICEROADS Cycling, one of the world’s leading #bicycle adventure tour operators, has announced that #Jordan and #Israel will be the latest additions to a range of itineraries now covering 32 destinations.

These tours mark the first launched under the new segments "Road" and "Trails," introduced as part of the rebrand which SpiceRoads Cycling underwent earlier in 2017. "By clearly segmenting our tour types, we can make sure that we cater to the specific needs of different kinds of bikers in today's cycling culture," says Maria Deevoy, Marketing Manager at SpiceRoads Cycling.

The Road Biking tour also marks the 7th and 8th destinations in which SpiceRoads has launched road cycling, having branched out from their road cycling base, Thailand in 2015, the company followed with Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Japan and Malaysia; often combining with multi country tours.

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US issues travel warnings for Egypt & Jordan

The US has issued travel warnings for Egypt and Jordan over the risk of terror attacks against American interests, tourists and personnel.  The US State Department warned US citizens to consider the risk of travelling to these countries and to avoid certain areas where the threat is greater.

"The Egyptian Government maintains a heavy security presence at major tourist sites, such as Sharm el-Sheikh... and at many of the temples and archaeological sites located in and around greater Cairo and in the Nile Valley," the travel warning read.

"US Mission personnel are allowed to travel to these areas. However, terrorist attacks can occur anywhere in the country," the alert added, explaining that several extremist organisations are operating in Egypt, including the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

The US has also warned its citizens and staff against travelling to Jordan, where terror organisations, including the IS, are active.

"Jordan's prominent role in the counter-IS Coalition and its shared borders with Iraq and Syria increase the potential for future terrorist incidents," the State Department said.

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Picture Credit: ccarlstead flickr.com/photos/27087959@N00/388076082 Camels via photopin

Jordan tourism seeks to capitalize on Petra discovery

#JORDAN’S tourism and antiquities ministry has confirmed the discovery of a significant monument in #Petra. 

The discovery was recently reported by archaeologists Sarah Parcak and Chris Tuttle in a study published in The Journal of American Schools of Oriental Research.

The find – aided by Google Earth, satellite imaging, and drone technology – suggests that the ancient city of Petra was larger than was previously thought. Although the site has not been excavated yet, pottery found near the structure dates it back to the 1st century AD.

‘We’re very excited to see the enthusiasm with which this amazing finding has been welcomed globally, hoping it bodes well for Jordan’s tourism industry,’ said Lina Annab, Jordan’s minister of tourism and antiquities.’

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Picture Credit: 7838598@N06/26529766895 The Treasury via photopin.com

Jordan hopes to attract Brits with six-month campaign ‘There is nothing to worry about in Jordan’ – Tourism chief

JORDAN’S tourist board is planning a six-month campaign intended to combat what it believes are ‘misconceptions’ about the destination and to attract Brits to the country. 

The board is investing a six-figure sum in the campaign, which will run major UK cities including London and Manchester. More than 40 taxis branded with Jordan's campaign messages will be on London’s streets, as well as 100 buses, digital panels and LCD screens in underground and train stations. 

Much of the campaign will be linked to Hollywood movie #TheMartian, which was filmed in Wadi Rum in #Jordan.

Adel Amin, director of marketing at the tourist board, said the campaign aimed to highlight the differences between Jordan and other nations. He said problems in Syria and Egypt had caused a negative effect, with tourism numbers slipping.

Amin said the campaign would ‘destroy any misconceptions’ people had about Jordan. ‘They will show the variety of holiday types available in Jordan and that it's business as usual … there is nothing to worry about in Jordan,’ he said.

The UK is Jordan's biggest source market in Europe and second biggest worldwide after the US.

Mr Amin added: ‘The campaign is designed to show Brits what the country has to offer, and inspire them to visit, as well as extend support to you, our trade partners. The campaign will highlight areas such as Petra, The Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and Aqaba. Our objective was to create desire and intrigue through a combination of thought-provoking headlines and stunning visuals.

‘With so many beautiful locations, we decided to create separate creative treatments, enabling us to really do justice to each stunning location within Jordan.’

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Picture Credit: Jordan tourist board

Jordan bins tourist visa fee

THE abolition of Jordan’s 40 dinar (£37) visa fee is one of a number of changes to be introduced over the next few months as part of the government's aim to make travelling to Jordan ‘more convenient and affordable for people of all nationalities’.

Tourists who use a tour operator to arrange their travel to the kingdom will be exempt from the visa fee, provided they spend a minimum of two consecutive nights in the country. They will still have to obtain a visa on arrival at the airport, but there will be no fee.

The situation is slightly more complicated for independent travellers. To avoid the visa fee, those making their own arrangements will be required to stay for three consecutive nights and purchase a “unified tourist site ticket”, the details of which are yet to be finalized.

Jordan’s tourism industry has suffered as a result of conflict in neighbouring Iraq and Syria, although the British Foreign Office deems the vast majority of the country suitable for travellers, advising only against visiting areas close to the Syrian border.

Amidst the tangle of conflict elsewhere in the region, foreigners have shunned Jordan’s holy sites and nature reserves, as well as the UNESCO World Heritage site at Petra, where visitor numbers have halved since 2010.

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Picture Credit: Petra Treasury by David Bjorgen - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Equine charity launches responsible tourism campaign

AN international taskforce co-ordinated by global equine welfare charity the Brooke has launched a responsible tourism campaign at Petra, the UNESCO World Heritage site in Jordan.

The Care for Petra campaign aims to improve tourist attitudes and behaviour towards working animals, working children, and the historic monuments of Petra in Jordan, where injured or weak donkeys and horses are used to transport tourists around the site.

The campaign provides advice for tourists on ways to prevent animal suffering at the site, and encourages visitors to enjoy the monuments on foot wherever possible.

Very young children work on the site selling souvenirs and offering donkey rides. The awareness campaign asks visitors not to buy items from children or give them money, as this encourages them to stay out of school.

www.thebrooke.org

Go Holiday editor David Kernek comments:  This charity, clearly, does good work, but its arguments should not be put only to the tourists who ride on these cruelly-treated creatures and who buy mostly trash from the children at tourist sites such as Petra. This is also a problem in Greece where in towns such as Lindos on Rhodes, less-than-healthy donkeys are used to carry tourists – many of them obese – up to ancient sites on clifftops. It should be the responsibility of public authorities to ensure that animals are properly looked after, and that children are not forced to run these shoddy businesses.

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Picture Credit: www.thebrooke.org