Tourism Cares with Jordan presents
The Jordan Trail Association
About The Jordan Trail Association
The Jordan Trail Association (JTA) was established in July 2015 and registered as a Jordanian non-governmental organization (NGO) with the aim to develop and maintain the Jordan trail and to support and build the capacity of local communities that the trail passes through. This trail is a 650 km starting from Um Qais in the top north to Aqaba in the very south of Jordan. The trail is a national tourism product that promotes Jordan nature and culture at its best, and attracts local and international tourists.
Kinds of Experiences
In July 2015, the Jordan Trail Association was formed to take on the responsibility of the development of the trail and its maintenance, in addition to facilitating its accessibility by establishing strong connections for all concerned and providing comprehensive information regarding the trail.
The Jordan Trail Association offers comprehensive information about the Jordan Trail including Maps, GPX, accommodations, and vital information that any hiker would need to hike the Jordan Trail. They also maintain the trail by clearing paths and way-marking.
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Social Impact
The Jordan Trail facilitates in the economic development of local communities through job creation, and the country’s economy to create minimum impact tourism which promotes an outdoor culture and environmental awareness. So far, the JTA has increased capacity building of the association, way marked sections of the Jordan Trail from Um Qais to Ajloun, re-scouted and made improvements on the trail, built relationships with service providers along the trail (including homestays and guide training), and advertised and marketed the trail globally and locally. The JTA aims to empower local communities through economic development triggered by increased traffic on the Trail leading to increased opportunities for local service providers and employers. They also strive to encourage rural home-based agri and other industries leading to increased female participation and income generation.
Success Stories
First story:
Issa Dweikat is a local from Rasoun villages in Ajloun (Northern Jordan). A few years ago Issa Dweikat, a local from Rasoun Villages in Ajloun, started occasionally joining hiking groups on facebook that came to hike in Ajloun to provide logistical support. During the initial planning phases of the Jordan trail, Issa was among many volunteers who joined the efforts of mapping the route. Issa attended several training and capacity building programs through the Jordan Trail Association, which encouraged him to start hosting hikers at his house and provide guided experiences on the Jordan Trail.
Issa is now guiding and hosting hundreds of hikers who come to experience the Jordan trail in and around Ajloun. Through his access to increase income he was able to build a second floor on his home and is now able to receive more hikers and to improve the service he provides. Issa has and is still benefitting economically while setting a new social and economic model for his local area, which have already encouraged other locals to start similar businesses on the Jordan Trail’s geographical route.
Issa’s example will be replicated along the Jordan Trail, projections and study shows that having just an estimate of 20 thousand Hikers per year will have the following local economic impact: 7 Million USD (Direct and indirect) of which 70% remains in the local communities, Thus, creating 300 Direct Jobs and 1200 indirect jobs. A Needs Assessment along the Jordan Trail covering 52 villages and towns was conducted by the JTA and supported by USAID. This document is in the final draft stage and will be published to interested donors and investors by end of March 2018.
Second story:
In September 2016, two shepherds from Madaba set out to walk the entire Jordan Trail to explore their country, many parts of which they had never seen before. Mohammad Zayadeen and Mohammad Al Homran began in Um Qais and reached Aqaba less than 40 days later; they were the first Jordanians to walk the full trail in one go. Many followed their 650-kilometer journey on social media, drawing attention to the natural beauty and diversity of Jordan’s landscape. Less than a year later, both have been hired by the Jordan Trail Association (JTA) as Trail Coordinators.