Schools Acheivements

Jordan is a country rich in unique tourist attractions that require significant efforts to highlight, market, and transform them into a profitable industry, akin to what many countries around the world have accomplished. One of the most prominent tools that can contribute to boosting tourism as a national industry is the initiative of some young Jordanians to innovate pioneering tourism projects out of a sense of national duty and a desire to think beyond traditional frameworks.

Educational Affairs e-magazine met with Anas Amarnah, who presented an innovative entrepreneurial project described as "Through the Eyes of the Locals," a community tourism project characterized as a model of fair and sustainable alternative tourism. Its aim is to design a map for alternative tourism that supports the official tourism map endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism. One of its main goals is to offer visitors multiple options to deeply understand the community, including prolonging their stay in Jordan and enhancing their relationship with the community. This fosters a sense of belonging to Jordan as a tourist destination, thereby increasing the likelihood of their return.

Anas adds, "Through the Eyes of the Locals" project was initiated while I was a student at the University of Jordan, majoring in Tourism Management, and my sister Lana Amarnah was a student at the Middle East University, majoring in Tourism Management as well. This project began in 2018 after several experiences living in various villages in the kingdom, such as the Deisah village in Wadi Rum, the Beida village in Petra, and the Makhiebeh village in the north of Irbid. The lack of accurate information about our authentic culture and heritage motivated me to start the "Through the Eyes of the Locals" project to narrate the stories of lesser-known places and their inhabitants, especially in areas near tourist sites.

Anas points out, "The project contributes to supporting local communities by assisting a group of residents in the areas where it is implemented. For example, in 2019, more than 900 people visited the Jabal Al-Jofa area, benefiting four families with a total of 35 individuals by providing food to guests and introducing them to the neighborhood and the daily life of its people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we designed the experience and delivered it online through the Room app. We also created videos and sold them to educational and cultural institutions and Arabic language learning centers for non-native speakers. The project is promoted through various innovative means, notably social media platforms and partnerships with some partners, such as the ViaVii platform, which offers excellent technology to promote our project."

Anas hopes to train a group of young men and women across the kingdom in the future to become storytellers like him, spreading the tales and folk heritage to reach their communities, villages, and cities. He aspires for "Through the Eyes of the Locals" project to become a model for community tourism locally and globally. Anas indicates the difficulties facing the project, stating, "The difficulties lie in the lack of local support since I prefer to operate under local platforms rather than foreign ones to maintain the project's independence. Additionally, there are challenges related to transportation, covering accommodation costs, and workshop expenses to raise awareness about the concepts of community tourism."

Anas further states that the goal of the project is to uplift the tourism sector and create a fair tourism model that benefits everyone, with its positive impacts extending to the private sector, public sector, and local communities. He aims for Jordan to lead the world in community tourism and alternative tourism, as this type of tourism has become widespread globally and presents a significant opportunity for Jordan to spearhead this type of tourism.