(MENAFN) Petra, one of Jordan’s most prominent tourist destinations, has experienced a severe drop in visitor numbers due to the ongoing war in Gaza and its broader impact on the region, according to officials.

The Chairman of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA), Fares Braizat, stated during a meeting with parliamentary committees that 32 hotels in Petra—amounting to 2,000 rooms—have shut down. As a result, around 700 employees have lost their jobs, according to reports.

He noted that the livelihoods of approximately 38,000 residents in the area depend directly or indirectly on the tourism sector and have been significantly affected by the downturn.

To ease the burden, authorities have removed licensing requirements for tourism-related professions and allowed certain tenants to forgo rent payments for the year 2024, Braizat added.

The broader impact of the conflict was echoed by the Director General of the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB), Abdel Razzak Arabiyat, who stated: “Following the Israeli aggression on Gaza, there has been almost a complete decline of tourism in Jordan.”

He explained that Petra’s tourism sector is particularly vulnerable due to its heavy reliance on visitors from Europe and the United States. The continued conflict has led to a sharp decline in tourist arrivals from these regions, negatively affecting not only hotels but also tour guides, travel agencies, inbound tourism operators, and transport services.

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