Khaberni - The tourism sector in Jordan is facing increasing pressure with the rise in regional tensions and the US-Israeli-Iranian war, amidst a sharp decline in tourist bookings and unprecedented cancellations.
While workers in the sector welcomed the recent government measures to support it, they emphasized that these steps, despite their importance, are still insufficient, demanding a broader package of measures including the postponement of taxes, fees, and loans, in addition to direct support to help tourism establishments continue and maintain their workforce, according to Al-Ghad.
Workers in the tourism sector confirmed that the steps taken by the government to support tourism establishments are positive, but they are insufficient to face the significant repercussions imposed by the US-Israeli-Iranian war on the sector.
These workers called on the government to take additional measures to support the sector, most notably the postponement of fees, taxes, and loans, in light of the sharp decline in tourist activity and the impact on the current season from the first days of the outbreak of the war.
Workers in separate conversations stated that the current tourist season has been directly damaged, noting that the impact on bookings and tourist programs began from the first day the war started in the region.
Recently, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Imad Hijazin, announced a package of measures to support the tourism sector affected by regional circumstances, including launching new tourist packages targeting alternative tourist markets, aiming to enhance Jordan's presence as a tourist destination in the region.
Hijazin also mentioned that the ministry has decided to activate the "Our Jordan is Paradise" program starting from the second day of Eid al-Adha, directing it to support the areas most affected by regional circumstances, especially the city of Petra, contributing to boosting tourist activity and supporting local communities.
Mahmoud Al-Khasawneh, Head of the Association of Travel and Tourism Agents, stated that the impact of the current regional tensions on the sector of Jordanian travel and tourism offices and companies is significant and negative.
He explained that preliminary data received by the association indicate that the cancellation rate for bookings in March is about 100%, while projections indicate that the cancellation rates for April and May will range between 60% and 70%, which poses a significant challenge to the continuity of companies and their ability to fulfill their operational commitments.
Al-Khasawneh called for a set of supportive measures for the sector, including addressing the Social Security Corporation to postpone the monthly subscriptions due from travel and tourism companies for their employees for at least six months, which would help the companies continue their work and retain their human resources.
He also demanded a review of the operational movement of the sector and a study of the possibility of including travel and tourism companies in government support programs related to employment sustainability and worker retention.
He emphasized the necessity of postponing or installment of financial obligations due from companies to the government, including the fees of the Tourism Promotion Authority, which amount to 25,000 dinars for tourist transport companies and 2,000 dinars for travel and tourism offices, in addition to tax obligations that companies are required to pay before the end of April.
Al-Khasawneh pointed out the importance of coordination with the Central Bank and local banks to reschedule loans and financial obligations due from companies, in addition to providing loans and credit facilities at low interest rates to help companies continue their businesses and retain their human resources.
Al-Khasawneh stressed that the current circumstances require the cancellation of fees and taxes instead of postponing or installment, as companies are unable to meet these obligations due to the almost complete stop in tourist bookings.
He mentioned that the sector includes about 642 offices and travel and tourism companies of various classifications, employing approximately 7,000 direct employees, in addition to thousands of indirect job opportunities related to the sector.
In turn, Hussein Hallat, President of the Jordanian Hotel Association, stated that the decision to postpone and installment the fees of the Tourism Promotion Authority is a motivational step, yet the sector needs broader measures.
He affirmed that the demands also include postponing fees and licenses from concerned bodies such as the Greater Amman Municipality, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, and Petra Development Tourism Region Authority, in addition to taxes, subscriptions to the Social Security Corporation, and loans due from tourism establishments at banks.
He added that these measures will not fully resolve the sector's crisis but will alleviate the severity of costs, especially in light of the cancellation of bookings that exceeded 90%.
Hallat emphasized the need for government support that helps tourism establishments pay salaries or bear part of them, considering it one of the essential forms of support at this stage.
He also demanded the rescheduling of loans without interest, exemption from interest, or an extension of repayment periods, in addition to providing interest-free facilitated loans to support the continuity of tourism establishments.
Meanwhile, tourism expert Dr. Nidal Malou Alain stated that the current governmental measures represent supportive steps, but the sector needs more measures, foremost among them reducing the bills for energy and water which limit the sector's competitiveness with neighboring countries and burden the tourism establishments.
He added that the sector also demands the postponement of installments and loans and financial obligations imposed on it until it can withstand the regional circumstances which have clearly reflected on the tourism movement.
He emphasized the importance of activating the tourism protocol and the Tourism Support and Development Fund, considering that the presence of such tools has become an urgent necessity given the risks faced by the sector.
According to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the total number of tourism establishments in the kingdom is about 3765, including 1388 tourist restaurants, 933 hotels of various classifications, 868 travel and tourism offices, 261 tourist car rental offices, 238 Eastern antique stores, and 26 tourist transport companies.
The tourism sector secures more than 60,000 direct job opportunities, alongside more than 300,000 indirect job opportunities in various regions of the kingdom.
