Tourism Numbers Dwindle in Jordan Due to Conflict in Gaza
In the heart of Jordan, the ancient city of Petra has been grappling with a significant decline in tourism since the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, particularly the Gaza war that began in 2023 and continued into 2024. This regional instability has led to a dramatic drop in visitors, causing economic hardship and job losses in the region.
The number of tourists flocking to Petra plummeted by about 61%, with visitor numbers falling from nearly 1.2 million in 2023 to fewer than 460,000 in 2024. This drop has been particularly acute among European and North American tourists, key source markets traditionally important for Jordan’s tourism sector.
The decline has had a severe impact, leading to the closure of 32 hotels and the loss of close to 700 jobs in tourism services in the Petra area. Despite Jordan not sharing a border with Gaza, the conflict has impacted the kingdom’s tourism due to regional tension and travelers' risk perception.
However, Jordan has attempted to play diplomatic and humanitarian roles regarding the Gaza situation. Yet, the tourism sector remains hard hit, with the ongoing regional instability continuing to challenge the industry's full recovery, especially in sensitive areas like Petra.
Despite the challenges faced by Petra, broader data suggests that Jordan’s overall tourism revenues rebounded in the first half of 2025. The sector saw a 11.9% year-on-year increase, reaching $3.67 billion. This recovery is supported by increased visitors from Asia, Europe, the Americas, and other regions.
Jordan’s tourism strategy includes diversifying markets to countries like China, India, and Russia and developing segments such as medical, wellness, and adventure tourism to reduce dependency on traditional Western markets.
Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage site and critical to Jordan’s tourism economy, which overall contributes about 14% to the country’s GDP, is famous for its stunning temples hewn from rose-pink cliff faces. The city's decline serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching effects of regional conflicts on local economies and communities.
References:
- Al-Mamlaka TV
- Arab News
- The National
- The Jerusalem Post
- The Jordan Times
- The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority
- The ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, notably the Gaza war in 2023 and 2024, has significantly affected tourism in Jordan, particularly at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra.
- The decline in Petra's tourism has resulted in the closure of 32 hotels and the loss of nearly 700 jobs in tourism services, despite Jordan not sharing a border with Gaza.
- Despite the challenges faced by Petra, Jordan is working to diversify its tourism markets to countries like China, India, and Russia, and developing segments such as medical, wellness, and adventure tourism to reduce dependency on traditional Western markets.
