Khaberni - Experts in the tourism sector expect it to begin gradually recovering following the announcement of the start of the Israeli cessation of aggression against Gaza.
They pointed out that the tourism sector is expected to experience a significant influx next spring, coinciding with March of the coming year, according to Al-Ghad.
Amid an aggression that lasted for two years waged by the Israeli occupation against the Gaza Strip, the pace of tourism in Jordan declined, particularly since this aggression coincided with assaults recorded by the occupation against Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen.
An agreement was recently reached under international sponsorship to stop the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip as part of a list of conditions set by the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli side.
The Secretary-General of the Tourism Economic Association, Nabih Riyal, said, "Stopping the aggression requires collaboration from various relevant entities from both the public and private sectors to revive tourism and return it to its state in 2023 and 2019."
It is noted that the year 2023 was historically the best in the tourism sector, with the number of visitors to the kingdom reaching about 6.353 million tourists, and the tourism income recorded more than 5.253 billion Jordanian dinars.
Riyal added, "In Jordan, we are seeking recovery to bring back inbound tourism to the kingdom with significant numbers, and focusing on marketing and promotion as a first crucial and fundamental step is necessary."
He indicated that Jordan was the country most affected by tourism in the region due to the aggression against Gaza, which resulted in the kingdom falling off the global tourism map, necessitating a return through joint work from various relevant entities to directly reach tourists.
He added, "The tourism sector needs to be promoted and marketed in varied ways and intensified campaigns."
Bishara Swalha, the owner of a tourism and travel company, said, "Stopping the aggression on Gaza has instilled optimism in the tourism sector."
Swalha confirmed that the movement of inbound tourism will be noticeable during the first quarter of the coming year.
He mentioned that current bookings have started to activate but they are "shy" due to the end of the bookings during the current season, in the hope and optimism of returning during March of the coming year, and added that anxiety and fear and hesitancy still exist due to the lack of official announcement about the ending of official negotiations and a complete cessation of aggression on Gaza permanently.
He stressed the importance of cooperation between the public and private tourism sectors to work effectively and significantly to restore the tourism numbers that the kingdom recorded during the year 2023, which were historic.
In turn, tourism expert Dr. Nidal Malou Al-Ain expected that the influx of inbound tourism will increase and that bookings will be tangible during the next year.
He added, "The kingdom encompasses all types of tourism, and is considered an archaeological museum and a natural tourist resort, and these features must be leveraged."
Malou Al-Ain called on the relevant entities from various sectors to work on marketing and promoting using the latest methods and across all social media platforms to reach the greatest number of targeted individuals globally with the aim of attracting the highest level of visitors to the kingdom.
Similarly, the Tourism Promotion Authority confirmed the continuation of its role in promoting and marketing the kingdom with the aim of attracting the largest number of visitors coinciding with the cessation of aggression on Gaza.
The Authority clarified that it is conducting promotional and marketing campaigns across various global tourism forums and through all social media platforms.
The Authority added, "Stopping the aggression on Gaza will contribute to the activation of the inbound tourism movement to the kingdom, coinciding with the political stability in the region, which reflects on Jordan's status as a safe and stable tourism destination."
The Authority indicated that stopping the aggression improves political conditions, restores confidence in the region, and regains momentum from the global tourism markets, especially the European and American ones, and therefore will positively reflect on various establishments and the tourism sector.
The Authority estimated that the upcoming phase would witness a gradual increase in the number of international visitors to Jordan, driven by the desire of tourists to explore destinations that combine security and stability with tourism experiences in light of what the kingdom possesses, enabling it to be a main attraction point for regional and international tourism.
