Khaberni - On Monday, the first charter flights from the Bulgarian capital Sofia for the winter season of 2025 landed at King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, carrying 137 tourists. The flights were organized by the Bulgarian travel company ABAX and its agents in the Kingdom, Travco Jordan, as part of the charter flights program supporting the winter tourism season in Aqaba.
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Dr. Emad Hijazin said that the arrival of this flight represents an important step in boosting confidence in the Jordanian tourism product and is an indicator of the expanding European interest in Aqaba as a distinct tourist destination.
Hijazin confirmed that the ministry is working in partnership with the Tourism Promotion Authority and the private sector to attract more charter flights and develop integrated tourism programs that enhance Jordan's position on the global tourism map.
For his part, Commissioner for Tourism and Youth Affairs in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority Dr. Thabit Hassan Al-Nablusi confirmed that the return of charter flights to King Hussein International Airport is a pivotal element in activating tourism during the winter season and reflects the success of efforts made between the Ministry of Tourism, the Aqaba Region Authority, and the Tourism Promotion Authority to enhance Aqaba's presence on the global tourism destinations map.
He pointed out that this type of flight directly contributes to increasing hotel occupancy rates and stimulating various economic sectors in the city, noting that Aqaba possesses the attributes that make it a preferred destination for visitors from around the world.
Nablusi said that the authority is working at an accelerated pace in cooperation with the ministry and the body to expand the air connection network and increase the number of regular and charter flights to the city, emphasizing that the continuous influx of charter flights will help cement Aqaba's position as an attractive winter tourism destination in the region.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director General of the Tourism Promotion Authority, Wael Al-Rousan, stated that charter aviation is a fundamental pillar in attracting tourists to the kingdom, especially from the European markets, which are considered one of the most important target markets for Jordanian tourism.
He explained that the launch of flights from Bulgaria this season reflects the growing European interest in Aqaba and the Jordanian tourism product in general, noting that the "Tourism Promotion" is working on expanding the charter flight network with various European countries due to the direct impact this type of aviation has on increasing visitor numbers and elevating the level of tourism activity.
He clarified that cooperation with major companies opens new prospects for offering advanced tourism products that enhance Aqaba's competitiveness as a leading winter destination.
He said that this step is part of ongoing efforts to boost tourism activity to Aqaba and expand the network of charter flights to the kingdom in the upcoming period.
