Tourism Decline in Jordan Due to Conflict in Gaza
Impact of the Israel-Hamas Conflict on Jordan's Tourism Industry
The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas has had a significant impact on Jordan's tourism industry, particularly in the Petra region. This was recently reported by the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority and was also mentioned by the official Al-Mamlaka TV on Monday.
According to Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat, the director of the national tourism board in Jordan, incoming tourism from Europe and North America has hit a record low. This decline in tourism to Jordan has been particularly severe, with a drop of around 61% from 1,174,137 visitors in 2023 to 457,215 last year.
The closure of 32 hotels in Petra has had a devastating impact on the hotel industry and tour operators around the area. As a result, nearly 700 people have lost their jobs due to the hotel closures. The decline in tourism from key markets like Europe and North America has hit the hotel industry and tour operators hard.
Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its stunning temples hewn from rose-pink cliff faces, is crucial for Jordan’s economy since tourism accounts for about 14% of Jordan’s GDP. The slump threatens this vital sector and challenges Jordan’s hopes to maintain pre-war tourism levels of around 5.4 million annual visitors nationwide.
Although Jordan does not share a border with Gaza, it has felt the repercussions through decreased visitor confidence and broader regional instability. The war has also strained Jordan’s diplomatic and security environment, further affecting its appeal to tourists.
In summary, the Israel-Hamas conflict has indirectly but severely impacted Jordan's tourism, especially Petra, by deterring international visitors, causing business closures, and job losses in the sector. The Jordanian economy, which heavily relies on revenues from the tourism sector, is facing a significant challenge as a result.
[1] Al-Mamlaka TV, Monday Report, 2024 [2] Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, Tourism Statistics, 2024 [3] Arabiyat, A. R., Statement on Tourism Decline, 2024
- The economic strain on Jordan's tourism industry, caused by the Israel-Hamas conflict, has extended to other sectors, as the decline in tourism has led to the closure of 32 hotels in the Petra region, resulting in nearly 700 job losses.
- The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Jordan's tourism industry has been significant, as the closure of hotels and job losses in the sector pose a challenge to the country's economy, which heavily relies on revenues from tourism, with Petra accounting for about 14% of Jordan's GDP.
