Eda'a Tourism Research Center was established in 2009 in Jordan to conduct research and studies to aid decision making in the Jordanian tourism industry. The center aims to build a community of specialized tourism researchers in Jordan, improve the tourism research environment, and create a reliable tourism data base. Eda'a provides research, training programs, conferences, consultations, and a professional online database to benefit tourism companies, government entities, donors, universities and more. The center has conducted several tourism studies and surveys and plans to launch an Arab Journal of Tourism Research.

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Eda'a Tourism Research Center
- Profile -
Eda’a Tourism Research Center
Established in May 2009
Tel: 962 5 353 0040
Fax: 962 5 355 0040
Mobile: 962 795112240
779691313
E-mail: manager@edaatrc.com.
Website: www.edaatrc.com.
P.O. Box 202 Al Salt 11910 Jordan
Primary Line of Business: Research and Studies in the Jordanian Tourism Industry.
Management Directory:
Dr. Ali Hyasat

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Our Uniqueness: In Jordan, tourism research is not often linked to research for tourism
development and enhancement purposes. Research is mainly conducted by donor
agencies working in the sector such as the EU, USAID and JICA and regularly focuses
on business development - marketing, promotion, and sales, for example. Moreover, the
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Jordan announced a bold decision after
launching the National Tourism Strategy 2004-2010 to fully partner with the private
sector on implementing the strategy which was also emphasized in the National Agenda
in 2005. However, reviewing the implementation of this strategy and from the current
work of the sector with the Ministry on updating the strategy for 2010-2015 it was
mentioned that more attention should be paid to research in the tourism industry. A
problem that is yet to be resolved, due to the lack of specialized centers in tourism
research even within tourism-related entities that always collect data (which is debatable
as to its reliability), is the communication of useful information to the sector. The
inexistence of a specialized tourism research center in Jordan and the lack of useful data
and information needed for a better decision making process, therefore, were behind the
idea of establishing "Eda'a Tourism Research Center", a center dedicated for tourism
research. The market opportunity of Eda'a Research Center is based on its uniqueness
and to the high demand of reliable industry information from local and international
entities interested in tourism in Jordan. Our Vision: "To build local, regional and
international recognition as a professional pioneering center specialized in tourism".
Our Mission: "To enhance the quality of the tourism services offered in Jordan through
research for development". Our Main Objectives are to:
 Build a community of specialized researchers in Jordan
 Improve the research environment in the tourism industry in Jordan
 Spread awareness for the importance of research in tourism
 Enhance the communication and the networking within the industry
 Skills enhancement for the existing and potential researchers in the tourism field
 Create a reliable data base about the tourism sector in Jordan
Eda'a services and benefits for the industry:
 Research and studies: offer timely and organized studies and researches for the
sector for a better decision making process.

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 Training programs: to develop the capacity of the human resources and to provide
the industry with professional and qualified researchers.
 Organizing industry conferences and workshops: encourage knowledge sharing and
facilitating networking in the sector.
Consultations: conduct feasibility studies, market analysis, and offer assistance on
applying for grants and fund raising activities.
 Professional online database: provide the industry with the essential tourism data
and information.
 Hosting and facilitating the research: Facilitating the research of students,
academics, and researchers.
 Marketing Solutions: Offering creative marketing solutions based on research and
market studies
 Grants & Fundraising: helping NGO’s, organizations and businesses in raising
funds and apply for grants.
Beneficiaries of the Center:
 Private companies working in the tourism sector such as Hotels, tour operators,
travel agencies, restaurants, and others
 Public Sector such as the Ministry of Tourism, Jordan Tourism Board, Department of
Antiquities, and others
 Donor agencies and international organizations
 Local and international media
 Non-governmental organizations and local based community organizations
 University students locally and internationally; undergraduates and graduates
Research and studies Edaa Research Team has conducted several research and studies
in the General Filed of Tourism (for example but not limited), which are :-
• Understanding the Situation of Tourism Transportation in Jordan (Suggestion New
Tourism Hub Terminal). Published in Archives Des Sciences Journal, Vol 65, No. 5;
May 2012.
• The impact of the (Arab Spring) upon Inbound Tourism in Jordan. Conference, Crises,
Globalization, and Culture(s): how to draw lessons. Business and Commercial Sciences

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at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) Lebanon, Beirut (April 2nd and 3rd
2012).
• The Contribution of Jordanian Universities in the Field of Tourism Research and
Publication. Published in Archives Des Sciences Journal, Vol 65, No. 4; April 2012 82
ISSN.
• Photographing and Tourists` Perception. Published in European Journal of Social
Sciences Vol 8 Issue 3, (2009).
• A conceptual Framework for Crisis Planning and management in the Jordanian
Tourism Industry, Case Study. Advances in Management, July 2010, Volume: 3 (7).
RS250.
• Sociocultural Impacts of Tourism on the Local Community at Petra, Jordan, Jordan
Journal of Social Sciences, Vol 4, No 1 (2011).
• John Beech and Hani Al-Dmour (2011) European Package Tourists’ Behavior and
World Heritage Attraction: An Exploratory Study. (Accepted for Publishing). Journal of
Studies (DIRASAT), University of Jordan, 38(1): 269-287.
• A conceptual Framework for Crisis Management in the Jordanian Tourism Industry
(2010). Advances In Management 3(7): 59-65.
European Tourists' Awareness of World Heritage Attractions in the Middle East (2009).
International Journal of Arts and Sciences 3(2): 32 – 42, ISSN: 1944-6934.
• Knowledge Sharing in the Jordanian Universities (2009). The Journal of Knowledge
Management Practice, 10, 3.
• The correlation between Cash Conversion Cycle and the Corporate Profitability 2008).
The Journal of Business High Studies, 4, 94-112.
• Factors Affecting Tourist’s Satisfaction in Jordan BADIA (desert) (2001). Journal of
Studies (DIRASAT), University of Jordan, 28, 2, pp 295-321.
• Understanding the Current Conditions of Tourism Related Businesses in As Salt City.
• Tourists' Expectations, Perceptions and Satisfaction in As Salt City.
• Understanding the livelihood of local people in Salt as well as their
awareness/perception on the heritage, life and tourism.
Annual Studies and Surveys: Eda’a provides the tourism sector with annual studies and
surveys about key issues and current concerns of the sector. Such issues we have worked
on in 2011 covered the political unrest in the Arab region and its impacts on the tourism

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sector. These efforts are important to provide the tourism sector with the proper
information needed to take prodder actions and decisions:
• Research on Forecasts for the Jordan’s inbound tour operators business for the
last quarter of 2011 and year 2012
• British Travellers’ Attitudes towards the Arab World.
• Scanning about the contribution of Jordanian Universities in the Field of
Tourism Research and publications.
• Scanning on the spending of the Public and Private Sectors on tourism research.
Conferences and Events: Eda’a organized important conferences and events that would
contribute into bringing together Arab researchers with their international counterparts
in the tourism field to meet, share and discuss different issues related tourism:
• The First Jordanian Conference for Developing Tourism Research, Challenges
and Opportunities, Landmark Hotel, first of April 2012.
• Several workshops in the field of tourism research were organized during the
period between 2008 to 2012
• Integration of Arab Tourism Markets in the face of the challenges, to be
organized in 2013.
Publications: Develop tourism specialized and peer-reviewed journal for publishing
tourism related research from Jordan, MENA region and from all over the world about
tourism topics related to the Arab World. Therefore, Eda’a will launch in the near
future:
• “Arab Journal of Tourism Research”
• Online e-journal of tourism research with database for research topics and
publications
Training on Research: Design and conduct special training programs for research
design and method including the following courses we offer:
• Research and Presentational Skills
• Principles of Research Design
• Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

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• In-Depth Interviews
• Statistical Analysis
• Survey Research
• Writing Research Report
Awareness Campaigns: Eda’a is working on creating an awareness campaign about the
importance of research in tourism in Jordan through the following:
• Create messages and flyers:
- Sharing international best practices
- Design and printing campaign materials
Other Efforts in Progress:
• Develop a tourism research exchange program for potential scholars.
• Hosting international researchers and scholars.
• Developing Juniors’ Research Program for university students.
Our Cooperation with International Donors including Tourism Development Project:
Eda’a Research Center has developed mutual and strategic relationship with
International Donors since its establishment as a professional center dedicated for
tourism research and development. See the below table:-
Tourism Development Project in Cooperation with International Donors
Name of study or projectStudy area
Period of the
contract (Y/M/D)
Contractor’s
name
(in case of
JV)
Type of service
Assessment of the economic impact
of heritage investments in Madaba,
Salt, and Irbid.
Economic
Impact of
Heritage
Development
15-03-2014 to 15-
06-2014
World Bank
Assessment and
Evaluation
Understanding the livelihood of local
people in Salt as well as their
awareness/perception on the heritage,
life and tourism.
Tourism/
Local
Community
1-09 -
2012 TO
28-02-
2013
JICA
Local
Community
Research

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Understanding the current
condition of tourists in As Salt City
Tourism
and
development
1-09 to
31-12-
2012
JICA
Research
and Evaluation
Understanding the current
conditions of tourism related
businesses in As Salt
Tourism
and
development
1-09 to
31-12-
2012
JICA
Research
and Evaluation
Global Volun Tourism
Research 2012
Tourism/
Global/
Volun Tourism
2012-04-
01 to
2012-12-
31
Volun Touris
m.org
Niche
Market
Research
British Travellers’
Attitudes towards the Arab
World
Tourism
/UK
2011-10-
01 to
2012-03-
31
JSMP/JEDCO
EU Funded
Source
Market research
Research on Forecasts for
the Jordan's inbound tour operators
business for the last quarter of 2011
and year 2012
Tourism/To
ur
Operators
2011-07-
01 to
2011-08-
31
JSMP/JEDCO
EU Funded
Research
and Market
Forecasts
Jordan Universities’
Contribution in Tourism
Research and Publications
Tourism
universities
2011-09-
01 to
2011-12-
20
JSMP/JEDCO
EU Funded
Research
and Evaluation
Residents Attitude Toward
Tourism and Tourism Development
Projects in Al Salt
Tourism/Lo
cal
Community
2010-02-
01 to
2010-09-
30
Balqa
University
Local
Community
Research