Petra tourism sector faces severe downturn amid regional tensions – officials
By : JD
Jordan Daily – The Chief Commissioner of Petra Development and Tourism Authority, Fares Braizat said the tourism situation in Petra is “very bad,” with over 32 hotels closed, including more than 2,000 rooms.
Braizat noted that all budget hotels, totaling over 200 rooms, are also shut down. Around 700 hotel employees have been laid off due to the steep drop in tourist numbers, he said in press remarks on Monday. He added that most Petra residents rely on tourism as their main income source.
Weak funding has halted most capital projects in the Petra region for the current fiscal year, Braizat said.
He attributed the sharp decline in tourism to the ongoing war on Gaza, noting that 87% of Petra’s visitors in 2023 were foreigners. However, he cautioned that marketing efforts abroad are ineffective amid ongoing regional instability.
Braizat said the top visiting nationalities this year are Americans, followed by Russians, French, Italians, Britons, and Spaniards. He stressed the need to diversify target markets to offset current losses.
Hotel occupancy rates in Petra currently stand at just 5%, according to Hussein Hilalat, deputy head of the Jordan Hotels Association. He said tourism ministry claims of sector growth are not reflected on the ground, with Petra, Madaba, and Wadi Rum being the hardest hit.
Hilalat noted that the ministry promised the return of low-cost airlines in October, but weak bookings may hinder that plan. He compared Jordan to Egypt, which still attracts tourists despite regional unrest, and urged a new strategy to revive the sector.
Abdullah Al-Hasanat, head of Petra Hotels Association, described the situation as “very bad,” saying talks with the tourism ministry have stalled. He criticized the “Our Jordan is Paradise” program, which allocated only 20,000 visitors to Petra over five days, calling it an unsustainable solution.
He said 91 hotels in Petra are mostly owned by local residents, deepening the local economic impact.