Dead Sea News From Around the Web, No.1

Amer Group to build $250m tourism project at Dead Sea

AMEinfo.com reported that “Egyptian conglomerate Amer Group has signed an agreement with the Jordanian government to implement the Porto Dead Sea project in the kingdom. The $250m project will comprise a five-star hotel, villas and apartments, making up more than 3,000 rooms. In addition, the Porto will include one shopping mall, pools, health resort, sports halls and a number of tourism facilities such as restaurants and cafes. The project is seen to increase the number of local and foreign tourists to the Dead Sea by around 500,000.” Read more from AMEinfo.com

• In terms of jobs created and recognition that Jordan is stable and a safe place to visit this is great news but does Jordan really need another five star Dead Sea hotel? I wonder. I have often said that the country should invest in smaller hotels and guesthouses because they are missing a big slice of the budget traffic.  There are many people, families and independent travellers, who cannot afford a top end hotel and because there are very few less-expensive options on the eastern side they are chosing to visit Israel instead.
  

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Jordan First country in the Middle East to install Tourism webcams in Collaboration with EarthCam

“EarthCam and the award-winning Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) have teamed up to launch a collection of live streaming webcams, with views of some of the country’s most treasured and visited locations. This is a major development for the JTB, as Jordan is the first country in the Middle East to install tourism webcams with great appreciation for Zain Jordan for sponsoring the live internet feed for all cameras.” Read more from Visit Jordan.

• Nice project, it gives you fantastic views from the Dead Sea, Aqaba, Petra and Amman.

Experience Jordan:destination campaign

More good news from  Visit Jordan. “American Express Middle East announced details of its first “Experience Jordan” destination campaign, offering travellers to Jordan the opportunity to access to a wide range of airline, hotel stays, car rental, designer shopping, dining, leisure and wellbeing special offers, simply by using their American Express Cards” Read more from Visit Jordan.

The Dead Sea: looking beyond its beauty

This entry from Green Olive Tours is almost a year old now but from first hand experience I thought it should be included as it gives a new and more realistic perspective on the region

“Although a vast part of the western shore of the Dead Sea is actually located on the occupied West Bank the Palestinian population does hardly benefit from and/or has very limited access to it. In terms of its vast resources, as well as a richness in a variety of tourist attractions, including archaeological and historical sites alongside beautiful natural spots, the area could greatly aid the Palestinian economy. However, large areas alongside the Dead Sea have been declared closed military zones or nature reserves and the entire northern shore was allocated for settlements. B’Tselem reports that in the whole of the Jordan Valley, including the Northern Dead Sea, Israel has seized control over 77,5 per cent of the land and has prohibited the local Palestinian population to build on, or use the land.” Read More from Green Olive Tours.

• This is a must read piece for anybody interested in the West Bank Dead Sea region.