Dec 23 2007 |
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Aqaba-Wadi Rum tourist train suffers from lack of demand, support from industry
AMMAN - It has been yet another disappointing year for operators of the Aqaba-Wadi Rum tourist train, who cited ongoing low demand and little support from the tourism industry.The JD230,000 project was launched by the Aqaba Railway Corporation, the Ministry of Tourism and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) back in March 2006 to expand the range of tourist activity in the southern governorate.
Projects director at ASEZA , Hussein Share, told The Jordan Times yesterday that plans to operate the train 5-6 times a month did not pan out.
"The last time the train moved was back in March with a group of 70 European tourists. Even then, the train had operated below its 140-passenger capacity," he added.
The six-carriage train, which adopts the old style steam and diesel locomotives of the Hijaz Railway, takes passengers on a 56-kilometre journey with various adventure, leisure and dining activities.
The journey includes a brief documentary about Jordan's heritage and the Great Arab Revolt, five-star dining facilities on board, with stops at key historical landmarks during the train's two-and-a-half hour journey.
These include tours of the Aqaba Citadel, the residence of Sharif Hussein Ben Ali - His Majesty King Abdullah's great grandfather - the new museum in Wadi Rum and the site of the Great Arab Revolt.
One of the key highlights of the trip is an adventure segment featuring a reenactment of the Great Arab Revolt and a staged attack on the train.
Share told The Jordan Times the tourist train should make 60 trips a year at full passenger capacity on each trip to manage the train's operational costs, which stand at JD4,200 per trip. With the ticket cost at JD50 per person, the train should make at least two trips a month, carrying 110-120 passengers to break even.
The ASEZA official said the train has continued to suffer low demand since its launch, barely making half of these trips each year at half capacity.
Share said the train's struggles will continue unless marketing efforts and support from travel agencies improved.
"Tourists have a lot to gain from the Aqaba-Wadi Rum journey but travel agents need to work with us and set reasonable profit targets to make it work," he added.
Share noted that travel agents were selling the trip at a high price in order to net a large profit, charging between JD75-JD100 per person, rendering the train unappealing for visitors.
"Our tourism department is in frequent contact with travel agents to remind them of the Aqaba-Wadi Rum tourist train but the project will continue to lose out as long as they stick to these high prices," said Share.
"In any case, we hope tourists who plan to visit the area will consider the package as an added value to their trip as they also get a free bus ride to Wadi Rum," he added.
For now, authorities decided to move the tourist train to the Hijaz Railway Amman station until a hangar for the train is built in Aqaba, expected to be carried out next year.
By Dalya Dajani
© Jordan Times 2007
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