AMMAN - The Kingdom could be Brazil's main gateway to the region if Royal Jordanian operated direct flights to Rio de Janeiro, a senior Brazilian official said on Monday.
"Jordan is an important destination for us and a main entrance to the region, especially Lebanon and Syria," Brazilian Minister of Tourism Luiz Barretto said, noting that large numbers of their citizens live in Brazil.
The minister, who is visiting the Kingdom accompanied by a delegation, made the remarks in a press conference yesterday, following a meeting with tourism industry representatives from the public and private sector, where they discussed means to boost tourism cooperation between the two countries.
"We want to establish good relations with Jordan as the country has a strategic location, and to discuss means to increase the number of tourists travelling between the two countries," Barretto told reporters.
He added that a Jordanian delegation comprising tourism sector representatives is also scheduled to visit Brazil in March 2011 to follow up on the discussions.
According to figures the minister presented, some 10,000 Brazilian tourists visited the Kingdom in 2009, while 1,000 Jordanians visited the South American country in the same year.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Suzanne Afanah on Sunday said Brazilian tourists to the Kingdom increased by 111 per cent during the first eight months of this year compared to the same period of 2009.
Barretto attributed the increased interest in the Kingdom to a Brazilian TV series, part of which was shot in Jordanian locations.
The minister also noted that Jordan is a good destination for Brazilians interested in religious and eco-tourism.
During their visit, the Brazilian delegates promoted tourist sites in their country, which will host the Football World Cup in 2014.
"We know that Brazil is far away but we want to encourage people to visit," the minister explained.
By Khetam Malkawi
© Jordan Times 2010
