Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association (Jitoa), a voluntary-membership organisation, has launched the first green campaign under its “Don’t Mess with Nature” initiative.

Jerash Adoption Program 2010-2011 was recently launched at Jerash Amphitheater with the kick-off activity Jerash Cleanup Campaign, which aimed at increasing environmental awareness in the area and cleaning up for the site to get rid of the litter, and sorting of solid waste to collect it for recycling.

“The roman ancient city of Jerash is famous of its greenery landscapes, fertility and natural artistic beauty, and today we are gathering here to work together on maintaining this image engraved in the hearts of its visitors from all over the world,” said Nizar Al Adarbeh, Jitoa director.

Minister of Environment Hazem Malhas said that the ministry was supporting all the activities undertaken under this initiative and announced the ministry’s support of JD12,000 ($16,900) as a contribution for the sustainability of the initiative.

This campaign was held in coordination with the Municipality of Jerash which provided trash compressors and workers to take off non-recyclable materials and transport them to the waste landfills.

Motokatsu Sakaguchi, managing director of Sanyo Gulf, the gold sponsor, said: “We believe that this campaign will have a tremendously positive effect on Jerash, its people, and the millions of people from around the world who visit Jerash each year to appreciate its natural beauty and cultural and historical significance.”

Al Adarbeh added: “We seek to involve the private sector and the local communities in the development process of enhancing tourism services and supporting the Ministry of Tourism to maintain the high-end service level in order to enrich the tourist experience and protect Jordan treasures, its culture and history.”

Dina Shoman, executive vice president of branding at Arab Bank  the second gold sponsor, said: “Jerash is considered one of Jordan’s greatest national treasures and it is our responsibility to keep it clean; not only so the rest of the world can enjoy it, but future generations of Jordanians as well.”

More than 300 volunteers participated in the cleanup campaign from the capital Amman and the Governorate of Jerash. Jerash lovers and fans of youth and families and the tourism sector staff worked in groups to clean up the area by collecting trash, sorting waste materials to plastic, paper and glass and separation of recyclable materials to facilitate the use and recycling process. – TradeArabia News Service