AMMAN — Vice
Chairman of the Jordan Hotel Association, Hussein Hilalat, confirmed the
continued decline in hotel occupancy rates during the holy month of Ramadan,
contrary to the high demand seen in previous years, ranging from 13 to 25
percent.
اضافة اعلان
Hilalat
stated that hotel occupancy rates during the past Ramadan ranged from 51 to 80 percent,
showing a wide variation. This significant decline is attributed to the
aggression in Gaza, impacting tourism in the Kingdom.
Data from
the Hotel Association indicated a clear decline in occupancy rates during the
current Ramadan compared to the previous year. Hotels in the capital witnessed
a 28 percent decrease, with occupancy rates reaching 51 percent last year
compared to an expected 23 percent this year, Khaberni reported.
Similarly,
the occupancy rate in Dead Sea hotels decreased by 45 percent, reaching 70
percent last year compared to an expected 25 percent this year.
Regarding
Petra hotels, they recorded a low occupancy rate of 67 percent, compared to 80
percent last year and an expected 13 percent this year.
Hilalat
noted that hotel occupancy rates increased in the capital compared to other
governorates during Ramadan. This month is considered a golden opportunity to
boost tourism in Jordan, especially in the capital, through offering luxurious
Ramadan breakfast offers.
The sector
has suffered a sharp decline in hotel occupancy due to the repercussions of
Israel’s war on Gaza. Investors in the sector face significant financial
pressures, including operational costs, accumulated debts, and losses,
negatively impacting future investments and the national economy.
Hilalat
called for effective and stimulating measures to support the hotel sector,
including temporary tax exemptions, providing financial facilities, and
offering financial support to affected hotel establishments, along with
financial exemptions and deferrals without interest or penalties.
He
emphasized the urgent need for effective solutions and called for active
cooperation among relevant authorities to address current challenges. He
stressed the importance of enhancing partnerships between the government and
the private sector, supporting affected hotel establishments, and the
importance of national solidarity in boosting the Kingdom's economy.
Jordan faces
significant challenges due to declining demand for accommodation in hotel
establishments. The tourism, hotel, travel, and tourism sectors are suffering
from the effects of these current conditions.
Reports from
the World Bank warn of the potential economic impact of the ongoing and
expanding Israeli war on Gaza on the Jordanian economy.
In the
context of these reports, the World Bank warned of the war's impact on tourism
activity and tourism revenues in the Kingdom.
According to
the Ministry of Tourism, Jordan has 609 operating hotels, with the hotel sector
employing over 20,000 Jordanian workers and around 3,500 foreign workers.
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