AMMAN — Employees in the tourism sector
estimated that around 80 percent of tourists intending to visit Jordan have
reportedly canceled their bookings for the upcoming season between March and
May, as per Al-Ghad. The sharp decline in reservations is attributed to the
instability caused by Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.
اضافة اعلان
Employees emphasized that the continuation
of cancellations at this rate means Jordan will lose around 600,000 tourists
over the next three months. They stated, "The tourism sector needs
compensation and support to withstand the financial losses weighing it down.
Additionally, there is a need to intensify marketing campaigns and target new
markets for the Kingdom's tourists."
Member of the Board of Directors of the Jordan
Society of Tourism and Travel Agents (JSTA), Mahmoud Khasawneh described the
situation as difficult, with the sector struggling since the war began and
expected to continue until the second half of 2024. He confirmed that
reservations for the upcoming season until the end of May do not exceed 20
percent compared to the previous season.
Khasawneh urged concerned parties to find
solutions to save the sector, including supporting it, targeting new markets, and
enhancing promotion and marketing efforts for Jordan. He stressed that events
in the occupied Palestinian territories do not affect the region's security.
Moreover, Chairman of Jordan Inbound Tour
Operators Association (JITOA) and tourism
expert, Awni Kawar noted that reservation rates will not exceed 20 percent
until the first half of 2024. He anticipated gradual recovery if a ceasefire
agreement is reached, with tourism gradually returning after the cancellations
in March.
Initial data from the Central Bank of
Jordan (CBJ) indicated a two percent increase in tourism income during 2023,
reaching $7.4 billion, driven by a 25.8 percent increase in the number of
tourists, totaling 6.3 million tourists.
Total spending by international visitors to
Jordan from various nationalities reached around JD5.256 billion during 2023,
compared to JD4.163 billion in 2022.
The average spending of international
visitors was JD827 during 2023, compared to JD817 in 2022.
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