Jordanian tourism companies were ecstatic over news of the reopening the Naseeb crossing with Syria, rushing to advertise the organization roadtrips to Damascus, which resumed on October 22, logging two departure and return drives per day.
As Pullmans hit the road from Jordan en route to Syria, currency exchange shops announced the selling of Syrian currency, and Jordanians expressed across social media platforms their “joy and longing to visit Syria”.
Jordanian citizens posted pictures and video logs from within Syria, especially in southern territories.
Soon enough, joy transformed into shock as one of the Jordanian visitors was left speechless at the extent of destruction and rubble found in the city of Daraa al-Balad, south of Syria.
Most reports said the city’s markets and neighborhoods are damaged beyond recognition.
Since the Damascus and Amman arranged for reopening the Naseeb crossing, dozens of Jordanians steered their wheels towards for Syria in a heartbeat. Most of are making daily trips to Damascus and the southern Daraa governorate.
Freight vehicles resumed their transport of Syrian goods and agriculture produce to Jordan.
A Daraa trade owner said the city’s markets were reinvigorated by Jordanian tourists and demands for agricultural produce and goods, especially olive oil, fruits, vegetables, meat, flour, clothing and gas. These items are available at half price in Syria compared to Jordan.
“Olive oil is sold at 28,000 Syrian pounds, equivalent to 46 Jordanian dinars, while in Jordan it is sold at 100 dinars,” the trader said.
The Syrian pound, driven to the ground against the dollar, trades at 625 pounds for one Jordanian dinar. Consumer rates for tourists are substantially cheaper when compared to Jordan.
A Jordanian citizen can buy a month’s worth of commodities from Syria for the simple price of 150 dinars. The same amount of money wouldn’t last a week of average food purchases in Jordan.
In Daraa, a number of Syrian regime security checkpoints and roadblocks located on the Damascus-Daraa highway were removed to facilitate the passage of trucks and cars.
The reopening of the Naseeb crossing would bring major relief to Bashar Assad's regime by restoring a much-needed gateway for selling Syrian commodities.
More so, regime forces saw to the reopening of malls and connecting infrastructure for tourists to cement their claims of the war having “ended in Syria.”
