The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jordan Inbound Tourism Association, Nabih Ryal, revealed a sharp decline in tourism coming from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, confirming that the Jordanian tourism sector is going through what he described as a "very bad" phase amid the repercussions of geopolitical conditions and the decline in air travel and movement to the region.

Ryal said in statements to Radio Al-Balad that inbound tourism to Jordan decreased by 80 to 90 percent compared to previous periods, explaining that this decline included various tourist source markets, including the Saudi market, which is one of the most important Gulf markets for the Jordanian tourism sector.

He pointed out that most tour groups have canceled their trips since last March, while the spring tourism season witnessed a significant decline, stressing that the sector currently has no noteworthy bookings for the fall season or even for next year, in an indicator that reflects the depth of the crisis it faces.

He explained that the current tourist movement is limited to limited numbers of regional visitors, including some coming from the Gulf states, Lebanon, and Syria, but this movement does not compensate for the absence of Saudi and foreign tourists who are a key element in activating hotels, tourism companies, restaurants, and commercial markets.

Ryal confirmed that the city of Petra is the most affected by the crisis, as a number of hotels have closed their doors, and tourism facilities have been forced to lay off employees due to the large decline in occupancy rates, while inbound tourism companies, tourist guides, and souvenir shops face difficult financial conditions that threaten their business continuity.

He added that the recent US embassy statement regarding avoiding going to King Hussein International Airport and the port of Aqaba increased pressures on the sector, but he stressed that the crisis began before that period as a result of continued regional tensions and their direct impact on travel decisions.

The Chairman of the Jordan Inbound Tourism Association believes that the sector's recovery requires the return of air traffic to normal, and the launch of an international marketing campaign targeting Gulf and global markets.

The Saudi tourist is considered one of the most important sources of Jordanian tourism, especially during holiday and vacation seasons, as their presence is concentrated in the capital Amman, the Dead Sea area, and Aqaba, in addition to natural and archaeological destinations, which means that any decline in the number of Saudi visitors is directly reflected on the performance of the tourism sector in the Jordanian kingdom.