Aqaba — With the visa waiver agreement between Jordan and Russia entering into force as of last Saturday, stakeholders in the tourism and commercial sectors expect Aqaba to witness a qualitative development that will have a tangible positive impact on inbound tourism. This comes as Aqaba seeks to broaden its tourism market base and attract new, high–value-added markets.
اضافة اعلان
The decision is part of government policies aimed at facilitating travel and enhancing Jordan’s competitiveness as a safe and diverse tourist destination, particularly in light of changes in the global tourism map in recent years. The Russian market is viewed as one of the most promising markets, given its size and the characteristics of Russian tourists, who tend to stay for longer periods, demonstrate good spending power, and show strong interest in beach, cultural, and desert tourism.
Tourism experts believe that visa exemption is a decisive factor in travel decisions for Russian tourists, as it reduces procedural burdens and offers greater flexibility in planning trips, whether individual or group travel.
Under the agreement, Russian citizens may enter Jordan and stay for up to 30 consecutive days per visit, with a maximum of 90 days per year, provided they do not engage in employment, commercial activities, study, or permanent residence in the Kingdom. The same conditions apply to Jordanian citizens visiting Russia.
Longer Stays
According to tourism expert Ayman Jabr, Aqaba stands to benefit significantly from this decision, as it is the Kingdom’s only coastal city and boasts natural tourism assets, advanced infrastructure, marine activities, resorts, and hotels across various categories. Aqaba also enjoys a strategic position as an economic and tourism hub within a special economic zone offering investment and operational incentives.
Tourism sector professional Ahmad Salah said the visa waiver represents a real opportunity to raise hotel occupancy rates, especially during periods that typically see slower tourism activity. He noted that the Russian market offers solid returns for the hotel sector, as Russian tourists tend to stay longer and use a wide range of tourism services, positively impacting revenues for hotels and service establishments.
Salah added that Aqaba has sufficient hotel capacity to accommodate the expected increase in visitor numbers. However, the next phase requires intensified marketing efforts, enhanced direct air connectivity with Russian cities, and preparation of tourism personnel to deal effectively with this market, including language skills and understanding Russian tourism culture.
Broad Economic Impact
For his part, tourism office manager Mohammad Buqa’in explained that the impact of visa exemption extends beyond hotels to include all tourism-related sectors, such as restaurants and cafés, tourist transport companies, diving centers and marine activities, and retail markets. Any increase in tourist numbers, he said, directly stimulates the local economy and creates new job opportunities, particularly for youth in Aqaba.
He added that stable tourist flows from the Russian market enhance investor confidence in Jordan’s tourism sector and encourage expansion of existing projects or the launch of new ones, especially in marine and leisure tourism. Diversifying tourism markets, he stressed, is essential to ensuring sector sustainability and reducing vulnerability to seasonal or regional fluctuations.
Buqa’in also noted that visa exemption improves Jordan’s image in the Russian market and gives it a competitive edge over other regional destinations. Russian tourists, he said, are keen on cultural experiences, visiting historical sites, and exploring local lifestyles. Jordan offers a unique mix that combines beach tourism in Aqaba with cultural and religious tourism across the Kingdom.
Integrated Tourism Programs
From an economic perspective, Professor Ibrahim Al-Nuaimat said this diversity allows for the design of integrated tourism programs that cater to different segments of Russian tourists, increasing the likelihood of repeat visits and enhancing medium-term economic returns. He called for capitalizing on the decision through targeted promotional campaigns that highlight the uniqueness of Jordan’s tourism product, with a focus on Aqaba as a key attraction.
Jordan’s Embassy in Moscow had earlier confirmed that with the implementation of the visa waiver system, a noticeable increase in tourist numbers from both countries is expected. The new agreement will make it easier for Russian tourists to explore Jordan and encourage more Jordanians to visit Russia, strengthening tourism, cultural, and economic relations between the two countries.
The embassy added that lifting visa restrictions will allow Russian tourists to explore Jordan’s historical heritage, from the ancient city of Petra and the desert of Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea and the Red Sea coast. Jordan also offers a wide range of leisure options to suit all tastes, including numerous restaurants, shops, and wellness centers.
The embassy further highlighted Jordan’s rich religious heritage, noting that Al-Maghtas (the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist) is a major destination for Christian pilgrims from around the world. The Russian Pilgrims’ House also provides special arrangements for visitors from Russia.
Official Support
Meanwhile, Dr. Thabet Al-Nabulsi, Commissioner for Tourism and Investment at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, emphasized that the visa waiver between Jordan and Russia is an important step in strengthening Aqaba’s position as a regional tourism and investment destination. He noted that Aqaba has advanced tourism infrastructure, diverse hotel capacity, and service facilities capable of accommodating the anticipated growth in visitor numbers, particularly from promising markets such as Russia.
He added that the authority is working in coordination with relevant stakeholders to enhance Aqaba’s readiness by supporting tourism events, encouraging investment in high-quality projects, and improving the visitor experience. Increasing tourist numbers, he concluded, contributes to stimulating the local economy and expanding employment opportunities, in line with Aqaba’s vision as an integrated tourism and economic city.
