Khaberni -Fares Al-Breizat, the Chairman of the Petra Region Authority Commissioners Board, discussed the main challenges facing the sector, foremost among them the noticeable decline in visitor numbers during a meeting of the Parliamentary Tourism Committee, due to regional and economic conditions, alongside the lack of financing and weak infrastructure in some sites, and the complexity of investment procedures, which hinders the implementation of many strategic projects.
Al-Breizat added, during a meeting of the Parliamentary Tourism Committee on Sunday, that the Authority has developed a comprehensive tourism development plan, based on a balance between protecting cultural and environmental heritage, expanding services, and improving the visitor experience. He emphasized the importance of stimulating domestic tourism and offering incentives to investors which create real job opportunities and enhance the local communities' benefit from the tourism process.
Al-Breizat mentioned that the Authority is currently implementing a national and international promotional campaign for Petra, alongside launching incentive programs targeting both domestic and international tourism.
He explained that the Authority has taken several practical steps in the recent period to improve the tourism environment, including reorganizing tourist paths within the archaeological site in harmony with World Heritage preservation standards, removing violations that mar the tourist scene, and signing partnership agreements with a number of local associations with the aim of developing tourism products and linking them to the intangible cultural heritage in the region, such as handicrafts, traditional foods, and community experiences.
Al-Breizat indicated that the Authority operates within a comprehensive marketing strategy based on main pillars which are: diversifying targeted tourist markets regionally and globally, diversifying tourism products to include religious tourism, adventure tourism, and wellness and recovery tourism, improving the visitor experience and increasing the duration of stays, which contributes to enhancing the economic return for the local community and achieving sustainability.
Al-Breizat praised the cooperation of the local community members in Petra, and their initiative to invest in the tourism sector despite difficult circumstances, which reflects their role and commitment to protecting and developing the site, and at the same time, stressed the role of the private sector as a main partner in the development process.
He also mentioned that the Authority is currently preparing a comprehensive development plan to establish a light industry area in the region, which creates job opportunities and expands the economic base beyond complete reliance on tourism.
Regarding addressing the challenges, Al-Breizat clarified that what Petra needs most at this stage is to direct the activities of ministries and official institutions towards the city, which will help in utilizing tourist and hotel facilities and increasing the demand for services.
He emphasized the importance of exempting the tourism sectors in the region from some taxes and fees, to aid in their recovery and stimulate investment, noting that the Authority has contacted the relevant authorities regarding this matter.
