Aqaba, Nov 17 (Petra) – The first charter flight of the 2025 winter season from the Bulgarian capital Sofia landed at King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba on Monday.

The flight, with 137 tourists on board, organized by the Bulgarian ABAX touroperator and agents Travco Jordan, is part of a charter flight program for the winter tourism season in Aqaba.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Imad Hijazeen, said the flight is a key step to enhance confidence in the Jordanian tourism product, and is an indicator of growing European interest in Aqaba as a distinctive tourist destination.

Hijazeen said his ministry is working in partnership with the Jordan Tourism Board and the private sector to attract more charter flights and develop integrated tourism programs to boost Jordan's position on the global tourism map.

Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) Commissioner for Youth and Tourism, Thabet Alnabulsi, said the resumption of charter flights to King Hussein International Airport is pivotal to revitalizing tourism to the Red Sea city in the winter season.

It reflects a successful collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism, ASEZA, and the Jordan Tourism Board to enhance Aqaba's position on the global tourism map, he added.

"This type of flight would directly help raise hotel occupancy and stimulate various economic sectors in the city," he said, noting that Aqaba has the merits to become a preferred choice for visitors from around the world.

AlNabulsi said ASEZA endeavors to expand air connectivity and increase scheduled and charter flights to the city.

For his part, Deputy Director General of the Jordan Tourism Board, Wael Al-Rousan, said charter flights are key to attracting tourists to the Kingdom, particularly from European countries, which are among the key target markets for Jordanian tourism.

//Petra//SS