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

Riyal said, in statements to Radio Al-Balad, that inbound tourism to Jordan decreased by between 80 and 90% 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, confirming that the sector currently has no significant bookings for the autumn season or even for next year, an indicator reflecting the depth of the crisis it faces.

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

Riyal 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 heading to King Hussein International Airport and Aqaba Port increased pressure on the sector, but he stressed that the crisis started before that due to 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 seasons, as their presence is concentrated in the capital Amman, the Dead Sea area, and Aqaba, in addition to natural and archaeological destinations, which makes any decline in the number of Saudi visitors directly reflected on the performance of the tourism sector in the Jordanian Kingdom.