AMMAN — Resumption
of tourism activity in the city of Petra has seen high demand for hotel rooms
in the city, as hotel occupancy rate went up to 60 percent, which saw the
return to work of about 500 tourism sectors workers, after the reopening of 20
hotels out of 45 that had been closed due to the pandemic last year.
اضافة اعلان
However, the
tourism situation in the Kingdom is still worrying some workers in the tourism
sector despite the improvement witnessed recently with the ease of COVID-19
restrictions.
Yaser Abdo, who
owns a travel agency, told
Jordan News that “there is a slow
improvement in the tourism sector due to the good recent governmental decisions
and procedures.”
“The main
problem here is that some people are afraid from the new phase of the (virus)
because of the wrong rumours they hear,” Abdo said.
He advises
people to be more courageous and know that travelling, whether inside or
outside Jordan, is safe due to the high standard health protocols the
government has put in place.
“I cannot say
that the situation is as its best, but, it is better than how it was at the
beginning of the pandemic,” Abdo said, “we pray that the coming months may be
even better because the sector cannot bear any more losses.”
Daoud Samaan, a
tour guide in
Petra and
Wadi Rum, said that there is a very slow and weak
improvement in the tourism sector.
“This
improvement will not help us compensate the losses that we experienced
throughout the pandemic. The government should help and support the tourism
sector," Samaan said.
He said that many
of those who work in the tourism sector have gone broke. “They will not be able
to make money again unless they see a great improve in the sector,” Samaan
said.
Governmental
entities have a different view. “We expect that in October, the tourism sector
will witness a significant breakthrough and growth,” said Abdul Razzaq
Arabiyat, director general of the Tourism Promotion Authority, in remarks to
Jordan News.
“Jordan is one
of the most desirable and preferred destinations for tourists” Arabiyat said.
“That is why I can say that I am optimistic that the coming days will be better
for the tourism sectors."
The head of the
Petra Regional Authority, Suleiman Al-Farajat, in comments to local media, said:
“There are positive and good indicators related to the return of tourism
activity to Petra, as we started receiving about 350 foreign tourists daily
since the middle of this month.”
Farajat expected
the number of visitors to reach more than 500 tourists per day at the beginning
of October, which is the beginning of the peak tourist season, and this gives a
good indication that the sector is beginning to recover.
“If the number
of tourists begins to rise, even if it is a small increase, this is promising,
and clearly indicates the gradual return of tourism activity to the city. The
tourism market in the Kingdom will open strongly soon,” Farajat said.
He added that
over 61,000 visitors of all nationalities, including Jordanians, have visited
Petra since the beginning of the year, compared to around 252,700 last year.
This is despite the circumstances related to the pandemic, and despite the
health restrictions in place, he said.
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