Amman - Visitors to the Jordanian capital will have a new hop-on, hop-off bus service from June that will take them on a sightseeing tour of Amman, the Greater Amman Municipality announced (GAM) Tuesday. "Unfortunately, tourists have always had a hard time finding something to do or see in Amman," said Khalid Burgan, a GAM consultant for investment and tourism affairs.
He pointed out that the new service would be a joint initiative by the GAM, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Jordan Tourism Board.
"In reality, the capital has a lot of important sites and attractions that many people are not aware of and which can offer a great experience if they have the opportunity to explore them," Burgan said.
Priced at 10 dollars, the bus tour will stop at the Citadel, the hotel area, downtown Amman, Rainbow Street, King Hussein Gardens, commercial districts and mall areas.
According to Burgan, passengers have the option of either travelling the full route -a two-and-half-hour ride- or disembarking at any of the stops to explore the area on their own. Those who wish to carry onto the next stop will get 30 minutes before they have to return to the bus pick-up point.
Special notice boards posted at the sites with directions to the pick-up points, as well as maps on the buses, will include information about various attractions at each drop off point.
"Passengers can simply get on and off the bus at the different locations, explore the area at their own pace and move onto the next stop if they choose," he added.
The "hop-on, hop-off" buses have gained ground in many other parts of the world such as the United States and Europe and can serve tourism here, he said.
The buses will operate daily between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm and will be specially marked, with the lower half coloured red and an image of people riding a bus on the top half.
A telephone number and website will also be printed on the bus, while the ticket is a smart card valid only for 24 hours after being scanned.
The bus service, which will operate for seven months before being replaced by a permanent service, is part of a long-term plan to introduce bus tours for tourists, the GAM official said.
"Tourists will find the city far more accessible, encouraging them to spend more time here, which also generates more activity for the tourism industry, hotels and tour operators," he added.
Amman, a wealthy capital in terms of historical and cultural landmarks, has so far fallen short of leaving its mark on tourists' itineraries partly for lack of such easy bus services, tourism industry specialists said.
Over the years, the Jordanian capital developed a unique blend of historical and cultural sites as well as modern shopping centres, restaurants, malls and hotels.
Industry leaders have often referred to this blend as a key asset in promoting the city's tourism potential.
