The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Fadi Balawi, stated on Thursday that the 9% increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting Petra in the first month of the current year reflects the sector's near return to its normal state.
اضافة اعلانBalawi emphasized that traditional and regular markets continue to contribute the largest number of tourists. He also noted an 8% increase in local tourism in Petra.
Regarding the Ministry's plans, Balawi highlighted marketing campaigns aimed at promoting new tourist areas in Jordan. He also mentioned agreements with low-cost airlines and expressed ambitions to partner with larger airlines.
According to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the number of tourists in the first month of 2025 rose by 30% compared to the same period in 2024.
The data showed that the number of tourists arriving in Jordan in January 2025 reached 610,000, compared to 469,000 in the same month of 2024.
Furthermore, the number of overnight tourists increased by 23% during January 2025, reaching 502,000 tourists.
Tourism revenues for 2024 reached $7.2 billion, though they declined by 2.3% compared to 2023, according to the Central Bank.
On the other hand, Deputy President of the Jordanian Hotels Association, Hussein Helalat, noted on Thursday that the occupancy rates of 5-star hotels in Amman for the first week of February 2025 were 51%, with 4-star hotels at 42%, and 3-star hotels at 39%.
He also mentioned that the occupancy rate for 5-star hotels in the Dead Sea was 13%, with 4-star hotels at 16%. The occupancy rate for 5-star hotels in Petra was 13%, with 4-star hotels at 4%, and 3-star hotels at 3%.
Helalat explained that these occupancy rates reflect averages from a range of hotels and not the entire hotel sector. He added that Amman saw a slight increase in occupancy rates compared to previous weeks.
Regarding Petra, Helalat stated that occupancy rates remain low for several reasons, including the suspension of the "Our Jordan, Our Paradise" program. He also discussed the decrease in occupancy in the Dead Sea due to the weather conditions, with the region experiencing lower temperatures.
