(MENAFN- Jordan Times) AMMAN - The expansion and refurbishment of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Petra will enhance the competitiveness of the tourism sector in the“Golden Triangle” region, according to Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF) CEO Ezzeddin Kanakrieh.In a statement released by the fund on Thursday, Kanakrieh, during his visit to Petra, stressed the importance of intensifying efforts and ongoing measures to complete the rehabilitation process and begin operating the hotel, which features 145 hotel rooms and chalets, in addition to a conference hall with international specifications.
Reopening the hotel would contribute to boosting the SSIF's overall tourism investment portfolio, as well as providing 200 job opportunities, he said, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
The visit also included the Beit Al Diyafa Hotel, which is affiliated with the Crowne Plaza Petra Hotel. The hotel is currently achieving high occupancy rates providing distinguished services, and is offering 120 job opportunities under the management of the Intercontinental Hotels Group.
Meanwhile, Haitham Al Majali, the chairman of the board of directors of the National Tourism Co. for Tourism Development, said that the company is working in coordination with the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) to complete renovations of the hotel, which are expected to be completed by the end of this year.
He emphasised that this project would contribute to revitalising tourism in the“Golden Triangle" of Aqaba, Wadi Rum and Petra, as it is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Kingdom.
He also confirmed that the company, which manages the Social Security Corporation-owned hotels in tourist destinations such as Amman, the Dead Sea, Petra and Aqaba, achieved its highest net profits in 2022 compared to previous years, following the gradual recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The expansion and renovation project adheres to international standards in various aspects, including UNESCO's protection standards for the site, as it is located within protected areas under the United Nations Convention concerning the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Moreover, since the project aligns with the concepts of environmental and economic sustainability, the hotel will be powered by the fourth solar power plant the fund is currently constructing in the Shobak region.
The tourism sector is a significant investment in the SSIF's portfolio, alongside other sectors such as banks, mining, communications, energy, agriculture, real estate development and developmental areas. The fund also invests in bonds and fixed-income instruments.