Amman: The Senate Tourism and Heritage Committee, led by Senator Michel Nazzal, convened on Tuesday to discuss the current challenges facing the tourism sector. The meeting was attended by key figures, including Chair of the Lower House Tourism and Antiquities Committee MP Salem Al-Omari, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazin, and other notable officials such as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Khaldoun Washah and Director General of the Social Security Corporation Jadallah Khlaileh.
According to Jordan News Agency, Senator Nazzal highlighted the necessity of fostering partnerships between the legislative and executive branches to address the crises impacting the tourism industry. Nazzal pointed to the effects of the Arab Spring, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing events in the Gaza Strip as major disruptors, emphasizing the need for decisive actions to support the sector. He underscored the importance of the tourism industry, which employs over 70,000 people and generates approximately JD7 billion in revenue, and cautioned that losing skilled personnel could take years to rectify.
Senator Nazzal advocated for the reinstatement of the "Sustainability" program, the offering of soft loans, and the implementation of grace periods of at least 36 months post-crisis to alleviate the pressures on tourism businesses. MP Al-Omari proposed the establishment of a tourism sector development fund within the Ministry of Tourism to counteract financial difficulties from ongoing crises.
Minister Hijazin elaborated on the ministry's initiatives to mitigate the crisis's impact, which include redirecting the "Urdun Jannah" program to aid the most affected areas, such as Petra, Madaba, and Jerash, by providing subsidized packages. Partnerships with Royal Jordanian Airlines are being strengthened to introduce promotional tourism offerings. Additionally, a platform is in development to target regional markets, including Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, and Gulf countries, with land-based tourism and connections to the Maghreb countries via Royal Jordanian.
Deputy Governor Washah confirmed that the Central Bank is implementing flexible policies to support the industry, such as offering credit facilities and deferring payment installments in response to the sector's challenges. Khlaileh added that the tourism sector is among the hardest hit, and measures are in place to allow establishments to pay subscription fees in installments spread over 180 months to ensure their survival.