AMMAN/AQABA - The rocket that hit Aqaba yesterday morning does not stand to affect tourism in the Red Sea resort, officials and tourists stressed on Monday.
A rocket "from outside Jordan" struck the coastal city on Monday, killing one Jordanian and injuring four others(see separate story).
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Suzanne Afanah stressed, however, that life in Aqaba had already returned to normal by yesterday afternoon.
"We arrived in Aqaba after the accident and tourists are still there going about their business. Some of them are on the beach and others are in hotels as usual," Afanah told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday, adding that the occupancy rate in the majority of Aqaba's hotels was 90 per cent.
"We talked to some tourists who said this incident would not affect their plans and they are enjoying the weather in Aqaba," she said, adding that many others did not even notice the "tragic" accident.
Tourists interviewed by The Jordan Times also stressed that they would continue their vacations, noting that the event was "accidental" and would not even prevent them from visiting Aqaba again.
"I've visited Aqaba more than once and I will not let such accidental happenings spoil my enjoyment," Virginia Helth said yesterday, adding that she did not even hear about the rocket until after she left the hotel with her friends.
"I went shopping and spent good times and I will visit Aqaba again," the Spanish tourist stressed.
Rimo Madochev, a Russian tourist, condemned the attack, describing it as an act of "terrorism".
"This is a criminal attack, and terrorism incidents are everywhere," Madochev said.
However, the incident "will not prevent me from coming back to Aqaba, as I have lots of nice memories in this city", he added, noting that he and a group of his friends have visited Aqaba several times to go gliding and diving.
Meanwhile, the Jordan Hotels Association (JHA) said that there have been no cancellations of hotel reservations in Aqaba due to the incident and that the situation is normal.
"Occupancy in Aqaba's hotels is at its peak, with some of the five-star hotels fully booked," JHA General Manager Yasar Majali told The Jordan Times.
Although this is the third rocket that has struck Aqaba since 2005, tourism has not been affected, with figures indicating a growth in the number of tourists visiting the city.
Two rockets struck Aqaba on April 22 this year causing no casualties, while in 2005, rockets were fired at US warships in Aqaba which killed a Jordanian soldier.
According to Aqaba.jo, around 94,308 overnight tourists visited the port city in the first quarter of 2010.
Figures also indicated that the number of overnight visitors reached 896,977 in 2009, up from 812,801 the year before. In 2007, 883,012 tourists visited the city, compared to 802,858 in 2006 and 814,668 in 2005.
By Khetam Malkawi and Riad Qatamin
© Jordan Times 2010
