Jordans Petra Sees Significant Decline in Tourist Numbers Due to Regional Tensions

Jordan’s Petra Sees Significant Decline in Tourism Due to Middle East Conflict

The ancient city of Petra in Jordan has been largely deserted since the start of the war in the region, with foreign tourists absent and local businesses struggling to stay afloat. According to Ruslana Novak, an insurance agent from Ukraine, she and her friend had the site largely to themselves as they visited in recent days.

The war in Iran, which began in late February, has led to a significant decline in tourism in Jordan, with visitor numbers dropping to almost zero. The Rose City, a major tourist destination, has seen its usual crowds of foreign tourists disappear, leaving souvenir sellers and other business owners without customers.

Tourism accounts for 14% of Jordan’s gross domestic product, supporting over 60,000 jobs directly and another 300,000 indirectly. Last year, the sector generated $7.8 billion in revenue from over seven million visitors. However, with the war, visitor numbers plummeted to between 28,000 and 30,000 in March and April.

Authorities have launched a scheme to encourage domestic tourism, but its impact remains limited. The sector relies heavily on foreign tour groups, which has been severely impacted by the conflict. Debris from drones and missiles has fallen on Jordan since the start of the war, with 281 Iranian missiles and drones intercepted by the country’s army.

The decline in tourism has had a significant impact on local businesses, with some hotels considering closure due to cancellations. Souvenir sellers like Khalid al-Saidat and Ibrahim al-Atmeh have seen their sales dwindle, leaving them without customers. The Petra tourism authority has reported that booking calendars at travel agencies were almost full before the war, but then emptied abruptly, causing a crisis for licensed guides.

Source: Al Jazeera