Petra: The Jordanian Economic Forum (JEF) held a session titled "Petra... A Roadmap Towards Resilience and Adaptation," with Adnan Sawa'ir, Chairman of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, and Dr. Khair Abu Sa'ileek, Chairman of JEF, in attendance alongside several board members.
According to Jordan News Agency, the session, sponsored by Haider Murad and Sons Group, focused on the state of Petra's tourism sector and the challenges posed by regional events affecting inbound tourism. Discussions included strategies to enhance the resilience of Petra as a tourist destination, diversify income streams, and stimulate development projects and infrastructure to sustain economic activity in the area.
During the dialogue, Abu Sa'ileek highlighted three key themes: investment, infrastructure, and awareness of development issues. He emphasized the need for thorough studies when planning projects like a light industrial zone to meet the actual needs of the area. Additionally, he advocated for stronger coordination with UNESCO to balance preserving Petra's historical significance and developing its tourism infrastructure.
Sawa'ir pointed out Petra's heavy reliance on inbound tourism, with around 83% of visitors traveling specifically to see the site. This reliance makes the city particularly vulnerable to regional developments affecting tourism. He explained that the city's unique situation, compared to other tourist locations in the Kingdom, stems from its dependence on foreign tourist tickets, which fund projects and infrastructure across Petra's six districts.
Sawa'ir noted the current challenges facing Petra's tourism sector, particularly the significant drop in foreign tourists, resulting in hotel occupancy rates as low as 6% during the last Eid holiday. He stressed the importance of diversifying income and investment sources, rather than depending solely on traditional tourism.