Sharp Decrease in Hotel Occupancy in Petra During Eid Al-Fitr, Aqaba Shows Improvement[

According to the Jordan Hotel Association, there has been a significant decrease in hotel occupancy rates in the historic city of Petra during the Eid Al-Fitr period compared to the same period last year, attributed to the repercussions of the conflict in Gaza.

However, hotels in the city of Aqaba witnessed an improvement in occupancy rates, as highlighted in a report prepared by the association, comparing statistics for Eid Al-Fitr in 2024 with the same period in 2023 in 4 and 5-star hotels.

The association stated in a press release, “This year’s Eid Al-Fitr has turned into a challenging period for the tourism and hotel sector in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. We are witnessing a sharp and noticeable decrease in hotel occupancy rates compared to last year, which is a concerning indicator for us as an industry.”

The report indicates that “all governorates in the kingdom are suffering from a significant decrease in occupancy rates, with Petra being the most affected, with an approximate 62% decrease compared to last year.”

Meanwhile, the Dead Sea area recorded a decrease of around 18%, and the capital, Amman, witnessed a decrease of 30%.

The association attributed this decline “to the continued repercussions of events in Gaza and their negative impact on the tourism sector, leading to a halt in tourist movement to the kingdom.”

The association emphasized, “It is important for governmental authorities and tourism and hotel-related entities to take positive measures to support the sector and stimulate domestic and inbound tourism by providing stimulus packages and facilities to tourism establishments, enhancing health and safety measures to ensure business continuity, and attracting tourists.”