Khaberni - Mahmoud Khasawneh, the president of the Association of Travel and Tourism Agents, stated on Wednesday that the tourism sector is going through one of its toughest phases amid regional tensions that have directly impacted travel and tourism movement in Jordan.
Khasawneh explained to Al-Mamlaka channel that the rate of tourist reservation cancellations during the current month of March reached about 90%, pointing out that the continuation of the current situation will lead to an exacerbation of negative effects, especially on incoming foreign tourism during April and May.
Khasawneh indicated that the association presented the challenges facing the sector to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, where a meeting was arranged with the Director General of the Social Security Corporation and the Directorate of Legal Affairs, during which ways to support the continuity of travel and tourism offices and preserve their employees were discussed.
Khasawneh mentioned that the sector's investments are threatened, "whether by closing offices or laying off employees", emphasizing the need for direct governmental support involving several entities, including the Social Security Corporation, the Department of Income and Sales Tax, as well as reducing burdens related to electricity and water bills, and offering facilities from the Central Bank.
He added that the demands also included the rescheduling of loans obtained by the tourism companies during the coronavirus pandemic under previous government programs, which the sector has been unable to repay due to its incomplete recovery so far, and exemption from penalties for delays in paying subscriptions.
Khasawneh confirmed that the official authorities have shown understanding for the demands, and promised to study the necessary amendments and raise them to the Prime Minister's office to consider them and make appropriate decisions.
The president of the Board of Commissioners of Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, Adnan Al-Swaireh, said earlier that the rate of hotel bookings in Petra for the upcoming month of April does not exceed 10% of the total hotel capacity, while the rate of reservation cancellations reached 100% during the current month of March, due to the regional conditions and their impact on the tourism movement.
On Wednesday, Al-Swaireh added that Petra started the year 2026 with promising indicators in tourist numbers, but these numbers later fell to significant levels, reaching zero in some periods, due to regional tensions, confirming that the city is one of the areas most affected economically, mainly depending on the tourism sector.
