(MENAFN- Jordan Times) This year's Citadel Nights festival, now in its third week, has created many employment and business opportunities to the Amman neighbourhood of Jabal Qalaa, local residents said.
Talal Hattab, who runs a cafe with his brother in Jabal Qalaa, indicated that more local cafes participated in the second annual event this year.
"Last Ramadan, there was only one public cafe people could turn to, but this year there are several cafes from Jabal Qalaa taking part in the festival," Hattab told The Jordan Times outside his cafe on Monday night.
This influx of business has meant more available work for local residents, he noted.
"For example, 14 employees from the neighbourhood are working at my cafe," said Hattab, who is also a member of the Local Committee of Jabal Qalaa.
He stated that the area's young people have also taken on other tasks, working as security guards and tour guides, some on a volunteer basis and others for pay.
Musa Salah, a 28-year-old computer programmer who has been working at a cafe during the festival, seconded Hattab.
"Everyone in the area is really excited about the event as it has provided several job opportunities. Some people dress up in Roman gladiator costumes and welcome visitors... Other residents work as guides to help tourists find what they want or guide them to the historical sites," said Salah
Launched by the tourism ministry last year as part of an effort to revitalise the Citadel area and bring in more tourists, the Citadel Nights festival features a variety of evening activities, including musical performances, handicraft stalls and outdoor cafes.
The festival began on the third of Ramadan and will continue until next Friday.
Every night includes an open mic during which amateurs are invited to perform on stage. On Monday night, some played music, while others performed stand-up comedy.
Naya, the first all-female band in the Kingdom, performed at the festival on Monday night.
Rula Jaradat, the leader of Naya, said the event was a good chance to promote the group.
"The number of our fans is growing gradually and such events help us introduce our art to the public," she told The Jordan Times while preparing for Naya's performance.
However, some cafe and booth owners were less happy with this year's festival, claiming that they had made less money than last year.
Abdullah Ateyat, who works at one of the stalls, said that although he was doing good business, he had noticed a lull in the number of visitors, speculating that financial hardships were forcing some people to forgo attending the festival.
"Now, Jordanians want to meet their essential needs and prepare for Eid," he said.
Bader Malhas, a cafe owner, said that some of the artists performing at the event were not particularly famous or popular and that their performances were poorly attended.
"Last year's artists were well known, which contributed to increasing the number of visitors. This year, there is a limited number of renowned artists," he told The Jordan Times.
Meanwhile, Hattab suggested turning the festival into a summer-long event instead of only holding it during Ramadan.
"They can hold it daily or one day a week. This would help promote the area to tourists and Jordanians alike," he said.
The Citadel Nights festival is organised by the tourism ministry and supported by USAID, the Greater Amman Municipality, the Jabal Amman Residents Association and the private sector.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.