Contributing to the enhancement of cultural heritage and social inclusion of vulnerable and disabled people in Jordan through the promotion of responsible and sustainable cultural tourism in decentralised areas in the south of the country: this is the objective of the new Un Ponte Per intervention, dedicated to the archaeological area of Jerash.
The project aims to protect the rich cultural heritage of the city of Jerash; to enhance it as a tool to promote inclusive and sustainable local development; and to create economic opportunities for the local community. Currently, the local community only marginally benefits from the positive impact that tourism in Jerash could have, as tourists visit the archaeological site and then move on to other destinations, without visiting or staying in the urban area with limited interaction with the local community. The project therefore aims to address this phenomenon by enhancing the area of the Eastern Roman Baths - located in the modern city - as a connecting point between the archaeological area and the urban area. To achieve this objective, the project aims to improve the protection and management of Jerash's cultural heritage, including strengthening the skills of the staff in charge; it also intends to improve the accessibility and usability of the archaeological site and the city's other sites of tourist interest; and to create jobs for the local community with special attention to the participation of people with disabilities.
To this end, actions will be carried out to recover and restore the area of the Eastern Roman Baths; the restoration of the mosaic in the Viaduct Church within the Jerash site; and the development of a plan to improve tourist management. In addition, a golf kart track will be created within the archaeological site, to make it accessible to people with motor disabilities; an app to guide tourists and continuous training for local staff responsible for managing the site; and a community-run restaurant offering job opportunities to trained people.
