Jordan’s tourism industry struggling as Gaza war deters visitors
The fallout from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has hit Jordan’s tourism industry hard, forcing some business owners to make drastic decisions to keep their operations afloat. Enas Al Hinti, who runs the Nomads Hotel in Petra, is among those taking extreme measures to survive. In an effort to keep her hotel open, she has slashed staff salaries by half and asked employees to take unpaid leave.
Al Hinti’s hotel is one of many businesses in Petra, the ancient city carved from rose-colored rock, struggling as fewer Western holidaymakers visit the region. With global tourism sharply down since the onset of the war more than a year ago, sites like Petra, Wadi Rum, and the crusader castles, which once attracted over a million visitors annually—mostly from Europe and the United States—are now nearly empty.
“There are no revenues, it’s all losses,” Al Hinti said in an interview with Reuters, pointing to the dramatic decline in foreign tourists. She is not alone. Other hotel owners and local business operators in Petra report a similar crisis, with many shops closed and operators losing hope for the upcoming tourist seasons.
The downturn is part of a broader crisis in the region’s tourism industry, which makes up 12.5% of Jordan’s economy. Recent data from travel intelligence firm ForwardKeys shows flight bookings to Jordan dropped by 35% between September 16 and October 4, year-on-year, as Western tourists avoid Middle Eastern destinations due to safety concerns.
Seif Saudi, managing director of Jordan Direct Tours in Amman, explains that the situation worsened following the April drone attack on Israel by Iran, which further stoked fears of regional instability. “Things were starting to look up for October, but the second attack erased all those gains,” he said.
Despite the dire situation, Jordan’s Tourism Minister, Lina Annab, remains optimistic. “This calls for us to really focus on our most resilient markets, which are not as affected by the situation,” Annab told Reuters, noting that visitors from neighboring countries are still coming to Jordan.
While the crisis continues to strain local businesses, some Western tourists remain undeterred. “We knew that the trip would be cancelled if it was really risky,” said Dorothy Lawson, a California tourist visiting Petra in late October. “They said we could come. So we came, and we’re really glad we did.”
However, for many vendors in Petra, the numbers don’t add up. “We used to have 4,000 visitors every day,” said Marcus Massoud, a souvenir shop salesman. “Now we have 300 to 400. It’s not like before.”
With business losses mounting and few signs of a quick recovery, many in Petra are bracing for what could be a prolonged slump in one of the world’s most cherished tourist destinations.
