Jordan | Umm Qais is among the best tourist villages in the world

Weather of Arabia - The World Tourism Organization chose the village of Umm Qais to include it among the best tourist villages in the world, after fulfilling the conditions and requirements required by the organization.

The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Nayef Hamidi Al-Fayez, said that choosing the village of Umm Qais as the best tourist village in the world will contribute to increasing tourism movement to the village and Jordan in general, empowering local communities, and increasing job opportunities, in addition to promoting the village as a major destination on the Jordanian tourism map.
Al-Fayez indicated that this achievement comes within the ministry's vision, and in compliance with the tourism product development plan that the ministry is working on through the national tourism strategy for the years 2021-2025.

He said that this selection is the result of the efforts and cooperation between the Ministry, the Department of Antiquities, the Tourism Promotion Authority, and other concerned parties, which worked diligently to apply and implement all selection conditions related to the goals of sustainable development.

The Ministry will hold a celebration for this occasion in the village of Umm Qais, which includes festivals, art exhibitions, forums, competitions, and exhibitions of industries and handicrafts, as well as musical and theatrical performances.

The village of Umm Qais was chosen from among 136 villages, whose files were nominated from all countries of the world, based on a set of criteria covering nine areas: cultural and natural resources, promotion and preservation of cultural resources, economic sustainability, social sustainability, environmental sustainability, tourism development and integration, Governance, tourism prioritization, infrastructure and connectivity, and health, safety and security.

The Best Tourist Villages initiative is the flagship project of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development programme, as the program aims to ensure that tourism contributes to reducing differences between major cities and villages, combating population migration, promoting gender equality and empowering women and youth, and promoting innovation and digital development. , and improve connectivity, infrastructure, and access to finance and investment.

The rural development program also aims to innovate in product development and service chain integration, promote sustainable practices for more efficient use of resources, reduce emissions, waste and damage to the environment, and promote and develop education. The program also encourages multi-level governance and partnerships, active participation and empowerment of local communities.

The competition for the best tourist villages is concerned with rural destinations that adopt tourism as an engine for development and securing new job opportunities to improve local and national income, while preserving, supporting and enhancing traditional values, customs and industries, in addition to promoting the concept of innovation and tourism sustainability in those villages in all its "economic, social and environmental" aspects. And in line with the goals of sustainable development.

The village of Umm Qais, which is located in the Irbid governorate in the north of the Kingdom, was known in the past as "Jadara", and it was famous in the past as a center of culture, as it was home to a number of poets and philosophers. and the arched porch.