Eye on Travel

Radio Guest List–Fairmont Amman Hotel in Amman, Jordan–July 28, 2018

Fairmont Amman

This week, Peter Greenberg Worldwide broadcasts from the Fairmont Amman Hotel in Jordan. Peter talks about the 18th anniversary of the Concorde crash in Paris and what really happened. Joining the show is Taleb Rifai, Jordanian Economist and, most recently, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, who talks about the current U.S. travel ban and how it unintentionally serves the agenda of terrorists and some other unexpected consequences. Then, Arnie Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief of Travel Weekly, explains why and how Jordan breaks all stereotypes about the Middle East. And Akel Biltaji, former Mayor of Amman, discusses his philosophy that heritage is for mankind and not just for man and then explains how Jordanians are the custodians of that heritage for the rest of the world. There’s all this and more as Peter Greenberg Worldwide broadcasts from the Fairmont Amman Hotel in Amman, Jordan.

Fairmont Amman

Lina Annab, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities in Jordan, shares how people come to Jordan to see its archaeological sites–100,000 of them, but she says the main thing they remember is the people and their hospitality. She also explains why tourists should take advantage of Jordan’s proximity to Egypt and Israel in order to fully experience one of the most fascinating areas in the world.

Taleb Rifai, Jordanian Economist & Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, explains why the current U.S. administration’s travel ban unintentionally serves the agenda of terrorists and isolates Americans. According to Rifai, building a travel policy based on group identification and generalizations would always cause irreversible damages.

Akel Biltaji, former Mayor of Amman, discusses how heritage is for mankind and not just for a man. He then explains why Jordanians are custodians who preserved that heritage for the rest of the world. Biltaji also explains Jordan’s role as a regional peacekeeper and a force helping to reconstruct Syria and Iraq.

Arnie Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief of Travel Weekly, explains why Jordan breaks all stereotypes about the Middle East, Muslims and unfriendliness of the region. He then gives his tips on visiting Petra and crossing the Israel border.

John Lillywhite, Executive Publisher at Al Bawaba News, shares that his biggest surprise was that Jordan made him feel as comfortable as if he was at home in the U.K.–in spite of it being drastically different with its lunar landscapes, warm nights and shishas.  

Jackie Caradonio, Travel Editor & Deputy Editor at Robb Report Muse, gives reasons to visit Chad and Sudan–not the most obvious tourist destinations. She then shares what location in Iceland will be the next “big thing” and why we should go there now before everyone else.

Catrina Gregory, American expat and freelance writer for Culture Trip, talks about how Americans are very safe and welcomed in Jordan and shares her favorite sites in the country that go way beyond Petra.

By Alisa Sokolova for PeterGreenberg.com