Karak, Sept. 29 (Petra) – Tourism entrepreneurs and stakeholders in Karak Governorate have called for practical plans to study the challenges they face in operating tourism projects, aiming to stimulate tourism activity and encourage local community members to establish investment projects that contribute to sustainable tourism development.

In statements to Petra, they highlighted that integrating tourist routes opens new horizons for tourism investments and enhances the preservation and sustainability of archaeological and tourist sites, benefiting sector workers and creating job opportunities for local residents.

Abu Amir Madadhah, owner of a tourism project in Karak city, said encouraging investment and developing tourism projects requires facilitating approval and licensing procedures for investors, providing incentives and support for new investments, and backing projects in handicrafts, traditional industries, and support services within tourist sites to strengthen the local economy.

Tourism activist Ihab Shmayleh stressed the importance of developing infrastructure and support services, including transport networks and roads leading to tourist sites, to improve visitor experiences and satisfaction, alongside providing essential services such as communications, water, and sanitation, which in turn enhance the destination’s appeal and stimulate the local economy.

Dhaifallah Al-Atmaz, who works at a heritage tourist camp in Wadi Ibn Hammad under the Karak Heritage and Tourism Association, noted that the valley is one of the governorate’s prominent tourist destinations, featuring natural sites and abundant water springs, yet it requires further tourism promotion and activation.

Tourism activist Saed Jaafreh called for coordinated efforts from all stakeholders to develop Karak’s tourism sector and address the challenges facing the province’s tourism product, improving services at archaeological and tourist sites.

Sate' Masaadeh, Director of Karak Tourism Directorate, affirmed that the directorate follows a systematic plan to monitor and address issues faced by project owners and prospective investors, aiming to provide practical solutions, enhance tourism development, preserve heritage resources, diversify the tourism product, and create job opportunities for local communities.

//Petra// AF