AMMAN — Adventure tourism is gaining increasing popularity in the northern Ajloun Governorate, offering visitors experiences that combine nature exploration with outdoor activities while contributing to tourism growth, supporting the local economy and making use of the governorate’s rich natural resources, specialists said.

 

In remarks to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, officials said that the governorate has the natural assets needed to become a leading destination for adventure tourism, including forests, hiking trails, valleys and scenic sites that attract visitors throughout the year.

 

Muawiya Annab, chairman of the Ajloun Governorate Council committee, said that developing adventure tourism and improving related services would help diversify Ajloun’s tourism offerings and encourage visitors to extend their stays, while also attracting investment and creating economic opportunities for local communities, he said.

 

Odai Qudah, director of the Ajloun Forest Biosphere Reserve, said that the reserve has strengthened its position as an adventure tourism destination by offering a range of activities that allow visitors to experience nature firsthand.

 

The activities combine adventure with opportunities to learn about Ajloun’s distinctive natural environment and are part of the reserve’s sustainable tourism approach, he said.

 

Such activities also help attract visitors and support local communities by creating jobs and increasing demand for locally provided services and products linked to tourism, Qudah added.

 

Tour guide Issa Sharaa said that Ajloun has an extensive network of natural trails that attract hiking and adventure enthusiasts, giving visitors an opportunity to explore the governorate’s diverse ecosystems, forests, valleys and scenic views.

 

Developing the trails and expanding tourism guide services would provide visitors with safer and more organised experiences while helping preserve natural sites and promote responsible tourism, he said.

 

Tourism content creator and activist Yaser Hanandeh said that social media platforms have helped bring attention to a number of natural sites that previously received little exposure.

 

Social media has become an effective tool for encouraging young people and families to explore tourist destinations across the Kingdom, he said.

 

Content creators, he added, have a responsibility to present realistic images of tourist destinations and highlight their diversity, helping promote lesser-known sites and attract more visitors.

 

Wurood Khasawneh, owner of a tourism project, said that the growing interest in adventure tourism has had a positive impact on tourism businesses in Ajloun, increasing demand for accommodation and hospitality services as well as locally produced goods offered by communities surrounding tourist sites.

 

Adventure tourism also presents promising opportunities for developing small businesses and diversifying services available to visitors, she said, helping strengthen the tourism sector’s contribution to the local economy and create employment opportunities.