Petra’s tourism revenue hit hard by aggression on Gaza, Minister Qaisi says

Jordan Daily – Petra, the iconic archaeological city, is facing a significant downturn in visitor numbers, according to Tourism and Antiquities Minister Makram Al-Qaisi.

In a press briefing held on Sunday, Qaisi revealed that tourist arrivals to Petra have plummeted by 70%, severely impacting sales of the Jordan Pass tickets.

Qaisi noted that a substantial 87% of Petra’s visitors typically come from Western countries. However, the recent military aggression on Gaza has led to a dramatic decrease in these numbers.

“From the beginning of last year until just before the aggression in Gaza, we saw unprecedented tourist arrivals to Petra, with the site welcoming 6.2 million visitors,” Qaisi stated. “Tourism revenue for the kingdom reached $7.2 billion during this period. Unfortunately, these figures have sharply declined since the onset of the aggression late last year.”

The minister highlighted that there were signs of recovery at the beginning of this year, with tourist numbers gradually increasing.

In a related development, Qaisi discussed plans to promote Umm al-Jimal, recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. He announced a meeting scheduled for Monday with the Minister of Investment and teams from both ministries to plan a significant event at the site.

Qaisi outlined plans for a grand dinner at Umm al-Jimal, aimed at attracting investors and showcasing the location’s potential. The event will feature extensive cultural activities and performances by traditional art groups.

This initiative reflects the ministry’s ongoing efforts to revive and enhance Jordan’s tourism sector amidst challenging circumstances.