Petra, July 7 (Petra) -- The number of foreign visitors to Petra fell significantly in June, totaling approximately 16,207, compared to 68,349 during the same month in 2023 and 53,888 in June 2019, according to official data from the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority.

Statistics indicate that the ancient city welcomed a total of 259,798 visitors of various nationalities in the first half of 2025, including 175,510 foreign tourists. This reflects a substantial decrease from the same period in 2023, which recorded around 692,595 visitors, including 606,000 foreigners. In comparison, the first half of 2019 saw about 538,187 visitors, of whom 474,139 were foreign tourists.

Fares Braizat, Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, attributed the decline in foreign tourist arrivals to exceptional circumstances affecting the region, particularly the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, along with broader regional tensions such as the recent Iran-Israel crisis. He noted that these developments have directly impacted tourism and commercial activities across the region.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Braizat underscored that approximately 85 percent of the local population relies either directly or indirectly on the tourism sector, and that revenues from archaeological site entry tickets constitute the authority’s primary income source.

He pointed out that reduced domestic and Arab visitor numbers have compounded challenges for tourism facilities, service providers, and commercial enterprises in Petra, leading to operational difficulties and revenue shortfalls.

Braizat added that the authority has engaged with relevant entities to implement measures aimed at supporting the sector, including reactivating the "Sustainability 1" program, introducing suitable exemptions, and encouraging government ministries and institutions to direct their activities towards Petra to bolster the local economy.

Meanwhile, Hussein Hilalat, Vice President of the Jordan Hotel Association, reported that hotel booking cancellations in Petra have reached rates of 95 to 100 percent, forcing numerous establishments to shut down and lay off employees, as tourism in the city is heavily reliant on European and other foreign markets.

Abdullah Hasanat, President of the Petra Hotel Cooperative Association, stated that the number of classified hotels forced to close has reached 28, encompassing 1,975 hotel rooms, which represents 56 percent of all classified hotel rooms in the Petra region. Overall, the percentage of closed hotel rooms now stands at 59 percent of total capacity.

//Petra// AJ

07/07/2025 14:57:59