Tourism Product Development in Salt
Salt Development Corporation - USAID BEST Project
June 2017 - Dec 2019
To support the development of As-Salt as a distinctive tourism destination by assisting in conceptualizing and managing grants, destination development planning, and training programs. The main focus was to enhance tourism offerings, improve local business engagement, and strengthen visitor experiences to increase As-Salt’s attractiveness and competitiveness as a key tourism hub in Jordan.
Key Activities
Supported the implementation of Salt Distinctive Destination Grants, working with grantees to conceptualize, curate, and develop interactive tourism experiences, including pricing, content creation, and testing.
Conducted experience testing and assessment surveys, evaluating new tourism products, including the Zamank Ya Salt experience, to enhance visitor engagement and length of stay.
Reviewed handcraft-related grant applications for SDC, assessing needs versus requests, and developed a strategic plan for supporting handcraft businesses.
Conceptualized the Brand Shop initiative, supporting SDC in developing a concept paper and packaging proposals for USAID consideration.
Provided occasional support for business conceptualization and assessment, conducting brainstorming sessions, field visits, and research to evaluate new grant applications.
Developed a qualitative monitoring system for grantees, training SDC staff on data collection and storytelling to track project impact.
Documented success stories, including the Zamank Ya Salt and Shoe Maker projects, through in-depth research, interviews, and observations.
Contributed to the finalization of the Salt Destination Development Plan, participating in stakeholder meetings, reviewing feedback, and integrating revisions.
Designed and coordinated a tourism guides training program, developing selection criteria, interview templates, and training guidelines for local guides.
Developed guiding manuals for key tourism trails, including Harmony Trail, Daily Life Trail, and Home Visits, providing structured guidance for visitor experiences.