Tourism in Amman is probably the one that's trying to advance the most. The newly titled "liberal" city is quickly making its way to the regional magezines and such forms of mass media that could quickly spread the word; the word that Amman is trying to become the regional "spot".
I agree but disagree with what they are trying to do. I mean, other than amplifying their current infrastructure and alter the city into a more modern one, they really have nothing else to offer the world. People who go there aren't going to go visit the marine life. Amman isn't bordered by water at all and the only city in the entire country that has what you may call a coastline is Aqaba, which essentially only shares around 16 miles of the Red Sea; something that could easily be disregarded for any tourist coming from Europe or something.
What Amman does have, however, is a bunch of monuments and Roman architecture that photographers seem to find intersting/fun. To each his own; when it comes to tourism and topics that differ, I personally tend to stay away from the unfortunate steryotype of the unnecessary sun hat, sunglasses, a camera that is expensive beyond words, and a comletely clueless mind about the place in which they are visiting.
Like I said, competition is somewhat present when it comes to tourism around the region. Monuments? You would be wasting your time if you go anywhere other than Egypt. But another thing that Amman wants to amplify is their nightlife scene. Clubs bars, stripclubs, adult shops, and possibly something that would never be seen in the Middle East; bars that allow for the unspeakable action between the same gender. This is something that would never pass off as acceptable any where in Egypt or Syria or places that are somewhat strict in their regulations. But since Amman is adopting the western cultures, they allow for it. I'm confused as to what they are trying to advocate exactly. They don't allow Muslim residents of the city to enter these clubs but they will take the tourists' money? Something else that doesn't make sense is the need to have these clubs and bars, especially when the money they collect from it is technically forbidden. This is something I have to look into.
Amman needs tourism though. The entire nation needs tourism because there is nothing else they can offer to help their economy except maybe industry and services. Whatever their reasons are for trying new routes that could be used to amplify this particular sector is completely up to them. Keep in mind that tourism is rapidly expanding in Amman; especially since plenty of tourists that aren't going to Cairo ot Damascus or Beirut are going to go there.
The Gulf Arabs are essentially the ones that provide a lot of money to the countries in which they visit. For example, in Cairo and Amman alike, they'll go the shopping malls and souks there and just spend tons and tons of money. You'll see them walking around in like packs of ten or eleven (which is usually the size of their families) and each member of the "team" is carrying at least two shopping bags in each hand. I mean, I know for a fact that they are not going to these cities because of the utilities of the malls offered there because they are essentially the same, if not less advanced and luxurious and blah blah blah as the kind of malls that they have in Dubai or Doha. So then the question is why do they go there. I honestly don't have an answer to this question because I'm still unsure. It might be that they want a change but it still doesn't appeal to me that they won't leave the Middle East to go visit places in Europe or Asia; which indeed is a huge possibility that they do.
In the end, I think that Amman (yes I got off topic a little but that's ok) is quickly expanding its tourism sector to be able to compete with the other countries in the region. I just hope they filter out some of the unacceptable features that they have and make it more reasonable.
I agree but disagree with what they are trying to do. I mean, other than amplifying their current infrastructure and alter the city into a more modern one, they really have nothing else to offer the world. People who go there aren't going to go visit the marine life. Amman isn't bordered by water at all and the only city in the entire country that has what you may call a coastline is Aqaba, which essentially only shares around 16 miles of the Red Sea; something that could easily be disregarded for any tourist coming from Europe or something.
What Amman does have, however, is a bunch of monuments and Roman architecture that photographers seem to find intersting/fun. To each his own; when it comes to tourism and topics that differ, I personally tend to stay away from the unfortunate steryotype of the unnecessary sun hat, sunglasses, a camera that is expensive beyond words, and a comletely clueless mind about the place in which they are visiting.
Like I said, competition is somewhat present when it comes to tourism around the region. Monuments? You would be wasting your time if you go anywhere other than Egypt. But another thing that Amman wants to amplify is their nightlife scene. Clubs bars, stripclubs, adult shops, and possibly something that would never be seen in the Middle East; bars that allow for the unspeakable action between the same gender. This is something that would never pass off as acceptable any where in Egypt or Syria or places that are somewhat strict in their regulations. But since Amman is adopting the western cultures, they allow for it. I'm confused as to what they are trying to advocate exactly. They don't allow Muslim residents of the city to enter these clubs but they will take the tourists' money? Something else that doesn't make sense is the need to have these clubs and bars, especially when the money they collect from it is technically forbidden. This is something I have to look into.
Amman needs tourism though. The entire nation needs tourism because there is nothing else they can offer to help their economy except maybe industry and services. Whatever their reasons are for trying new routes that could be used to amplify this particular sector is completely up to them. Keep in mind that tourism is rapidly expanding in Amman; especially since plenty of tourists that aren't going to Cairo ot Damascus or Beirut are going to go there.
The Gulf Arabs are essentially the ones that provide a lot of money to the countries in which they visit. For example, in Cairo and Amman alike, they'll go the shopping malls and souks there and just spend tons and tons of money. You'll see them walking around in like packs of ten or eleven (which is usually the size of their families) and each member of the "team" is carrying at least two shopping bags in each hand. I mean, I know for a fact that they are not going to these cities because of the utilities of the malls offered there because they are essentially the same, if not less advanced and luxurious and blah blah blah as the kind of malls that they have in Dubai or Doha. So then the question is why do they go there. I honestly don't have an answer to this question because I'm still unsure. It might be that they want a change but it still doesn't appeal to me that they won't leave the Middle East to go visit places in Europe or Asia; which indeed is a huge possibility that they do.
In the end, I think that Amman (yes I got off topic a little but that's ok) is quickly expanding its tourism sector to be able to compete with the other countries in the region. I just hope they filter out some of the unacceptable features that they have and make it more reasonable.
No comments:
Post a Comment