Tunisians will soon be exempt from visa requirements into Jordan, a Tunisian diplomat announced Wednesday, a change officials hope will boost the country's tourism industry. But it's not getting as positive a response internationally as it is in Tunisia.
Diplomat Khemaies Jhinaoui told Tunisian state agency Tunis-Afrique Presse the countries decided on the move to improve the flow of tourists. In July Tunisia allowed the visa exemption for Jordanians, 2,000 to 2,500 of whom visit Tunisia every year, TAP said.
This was the response from some Western social media users:
US issues report showing 5000 foreign terrorist fighters from #Tunisia. Now #Jordan to eliminate entry visas? #Syria pic.twitter.com/sgQS0QWVJf
— James Wheeler (@wheelertweets) October 22, 2015US Homeland Security released a report late September that said more than 5,000 from Tunisia have joined forces in Syria and Iraq, making Tunisia the most common nationality among foreign fighters.
Unlike the majority of the Middle East, Jordan hasn't had a single reported Daesh (ISIS) attack. But with neighbors of Syria, Iraq and the West Bank, border security remains a key issue that continues to haunt its tourism revenues and entrance policies.
Thirteen percent of Jordan's economy relies on the tourism industry, making it one of the country's main concerns as regional conflict escalates. Tourism Minister Nayef al-Fayez said at this rate, the industry may lose more than $700 million this year.
By Hayat Norimine
