As part of the ministry's plans to enable its initial transformation into an e-ministry, it has solicited offers from qualified IT companies for the provision of consultancy and software services to help execute its vision, beginning with the professions department, according to a statement released by ESKADENIA. The objective of this project is to establish e-business capabilities that will enable easy, user friendly, Internet and other remote access by the ministry's licensing and classification clients for the purpose of making and/ or renewing applications; submitting necessary supporting documents; and tracking the progress of applications processing.
This would enable the ministry to deliver enhanced customer satisfaction to its clients including hotels, tourist restaurants, travel agencies, tour leaders and guides and overland transportation, in addition to souvenir and handicraft shops.
Over the past two years, the ministry has been developing plans to computerise its key operations and functions in order to better serve its clients.
ESKADENIA's first project with the ministry was to design and build its portal www.tourism.jo that is currently up and running, designed to inform visitors, the industry and the public at large on key issues related to tourism in the Kingdom.
The website would have a link to the web-interface of the new professions department online section, where more than 1,500 client users will be able to log into the provided online services, the statement said.
ESKADENIA's second project with the ministry involved the development of an advanced online system for the Statistical Department, which can also be accessed through the website, thus guaranteeing utmost efficiency in providing comprehensive information for the tourism sector.
The agreement was signed by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Alia Bouran, and ESKADENIA Executive Director Doha Abdelkhaleq, and endorsed by the World Bank, which is funding this project.
Echo consultants will provide initial consultancy services for the project, according to the statement.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities was established in 1988 tasked with promoting, developing and managing the country's tourism and cultural heritage assets. Its mission is to activate the role of the tourism industry to highlight the Kingdom's attractions and to distinguish Jordan as a unique tourism destination.
The professions department is the backbone of the ministry. It is the main provider of services to the industry, and a primary focus of the ministry's current e-government initiative. The department's objective is to ensure the maintenance of the highest possible standards of conduct and service in the industry.
ESKADENIA is active in the design, development and deployment of a range of software products in the telecommunications, enterprise and Internet applications areas. The Amman-based company, which has sales activities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, is a product and market-oriented organisation that assists enterprises and promotes businesses by use of effective IT strategies, tools and solutions. More than 70 per cent of its sales are exported to the global IT market.
Quelle: MENAFN, 12.09.2004
