The closing session of the forum was designed to bridge reflection and action, bringing together the moderators of the four thematic workshops to deliver concise syntheses of their discussions. These interventions provided a collective roadmap for activating resources and scaling the creative potential of the Jordan Valley. Each pathway presented both challenges and opportunities, framed as actionable ideas with the potential for immediate impact.

1. Agritourism pathways were defined as holistic and authentic agricultural experiences, rooted in the Valley’s traditions and free from chemical inputs. Yet the sector faces persistent challenges: young people have limited access to full agritourism experiences, gaps exist in local capacity to promote the area’s uniqueness, and funding support remains a critical barrier. The recommendation was clear: develop and build local capacity to highlight and market the Jordan Valley’s distinctive agritourism identity, enabling it to attract visitors and investment.
2. Food systems pathways emphasised the central role of culinary arts in cultural identity, inherited across generations but open to modern adaptation. The discussion underscored the need to support creative individuals, not only through donor aid but by encouraging producers to follow their passions. Youth engagement was highlighted, with proposals to integrate culinary culture into schools and to develop a culinary arts book to document and promote heritage. It was also stressed that preserving food traditions requires attention to soil health and ecosystem restoration, ensuring healthier crops and more resilient cultural practices.
3. Digital resilience pathways focused on the use of digital tools to strengthen community resilience and growth. Challenges include widespread distrust of modern technologies such as cryptocurrency, largely due to scams, and language barriers that exclude many young people from opportunities, as most platforms remain in English. Recommendations centred on raising awareness and building trust in digital platforms, developing accessible Arabic-language tools to map the digital landscape, and expanding knowledge on how to apply advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain responsibly.
4. Culture and heritage pathways revealed deep challenges in awareness and promotion. Many Jordanians remain unaware of the richness of the Jordan Valley’s cultural, food, and architectural heritage. Disconnection from agricultural traditions, limited service, and weak transport infrastructure continue to restrict opportunities for youth. Heritage assets such as mud architecture and traditional building methods are under-promoted, despite their popularity in countries such as Egypt and Morocco. Festivals and cultural events remain scarce. However, opportunities abound. Revitalising the Valley’s historic identity as the “Land of Sugar” and promoting its mud buildings and historic factories were highlighted as powerful anchors for cultural tourism. Developing well-structured programmes that showcase these authentic experiences could attract both local and international visitors, transforming cultural assets into engines of growth.

Commitments framework

The call for action was unambiguous: move from recognition of potential to tangible, collective investment that activates resources, scales innovation, and transforms the Jordan Valley into a hub where cultural identity and economic development reinforce one another. To scale the creative potential of the Jordan Valley, the forum closed with a call for concrete commitments:

• Capacity building: Invest in training young people, women, and local actors to develop skills in agritourism, culinary heritage, digital literacy, and cultural entrepreneurship.
• Sustainable funding: Establish financing mechanisms that go beyond donor dependency, enabling long-term investment in local creative industries.
• Policy alignment: Integrate CCI pathways more clearly within the Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV), ensuring institutional ownership and cross-sectoral coordination.
• Partnerships: Foster collaborations between local communities, the private sector, government institutions, and international partners to co-create solutions.
• Visibility and promotion: Develop campaigns, platforms, and events to showcase the Jordan Valley’s unique assets to national and global audiences.

Recommendations

The closing exchange of the forum offered valuable insights on how to translate dialogue into sustained action. While participants acknowledged the complexity of achieving rapid outcomes, there was a strong consensus on the pathways required to unlock the Jordan Valley’s potential.

• Commitment and continuity: The forum was recognised as a significant milestone, but participants stressed that it must be viewed as the beginning of a longer journey. Long-term sustainable development in the Jordan Valley requires a mixed approach that integrates economic, social, and cultural dimensions. Tangible outputs, such as the proposed cookbook documenting culinary heritage, were welcomed as practical steps towards sustaining momentum. The announcement that the next forum will convene in Aqaba, to develop an action plan based on the current proceedings, was seen as an important commitment to continuity.

• Investment and enabling frameworks: The discussion highlighted that development will be long and challenging, but ultimately achievable with the right enabling environment. Success was linked to strong legislative frameworks, alignment with national government priorities and tourism boards, and an active role for the private sector as the principal driver of growth. Investment attraction should be underpinned by compelling narratives and demonstrable success stories drawn from other regions.

• Knowledge and evidence-based planning: A recurring theme was the lack of reliable and systematic data about the Jordan Valley. The need for accurate documentation and a foundation of scientific methodology was strongly emphasised as a prerequisite for effective planning and development. Assumptions and perceptions, it was argued, cannot form the basis of strategic decision-making. Tourism competitiveness surveys were cited as an example of how robust data can help benchmark performance and identify gaps across the sector.

• Clear outcomes and wider scope: Calls were made for the forum to move beyond discussion into the production of clear, actionable outcomes. While the focus on the Jordan Valley was seen as crucial, it was suggested that future forums could expand their scope to cover other regions of Jordan where creative and cultural industries remain untapped. Bringing entrepreneurs into future gatherings was also recommended as a way of enhancing innovation, building networks, and creating new opportunities for collaboration.

• Community strengthening and regional linkages: The strengthening of local communities was identified as a cornerstone of any sustainable approach. Development should prioritise the voices, energy, and insights of communities themselves, ensuring their representation in decision-making and initiatives. Stronger linkages between regions such as Aqaba, Amman, and the Jordan Valley were described as important pathways for strengthening collaboration and market access. Participants argued that local actors already possess the knowledge and authenticity to showcase what they can offer, and that these assets must be placed at the centre of future strategies.

Suha M. Ayyash