Amman, July 21 (Petra) -- Economic and regulatory relief measures aimed at sustaining the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) were finalized during a comprehensive two-session evaluation convened to address the ongoing geopolitical pressures on Jordan's tourism industry.
The strategy focuses on mitigating financial damages across hospitality operations and local workforces by establishing a unified government intervention framework.
Under the newly formulated recommendations, financial obligations owed by tourism sector businesses to commercial banks, the Social Security Corporation (SSC), and public utility entities for electricity and water will be deferred and rescheduled. Furthermore, targeted mechanisms will be implemented to assist with employee wage coverage to prevent workforce displacement.
To protect the regional economy against future market fluctuations, long-term interventions were established, including the capitalization of a dedicated risk management account under PDTRA to serve as a financial buffer during crises. Complementing these financial safeguards, the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) will sponsor promotional travel packages targeting visitors from the Arab 1948 community, the Arabian Gulf, Egypt, Lebanon, and Russia.
Developed in partnership with Royal Jordanian and the Arab Bridge Maritime Company, the packages will feature competitive rates designed to incentivize overnight stays in Petra as part of a broader push across the "Golden Triangle" circuit.
Parallel local relief protocols implemented by PDTRA include targeted fee exemptions and debt settlement programs for regional commercial operators. Tenants in the new commercial market have been granted a 10 percent reduction in lease service fees, while active tourism and commercial establishments will receive a 95 percent waiver on increased waste management fees for 2026.
A debt resolution initiative was also launched to settle over 300,000 JOD in outstanding liabilities for tenants of the older commercial complex.
The high-level sessions were chaired by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Emad Hijazeen, following directives from the Prime Minister. The evaluation brought together key administrative and economic leadership, including Chief Commissioner of PDTRA Adnan Swair, the Governor of Ma'an, the Director General of the SSC, the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan, and the Assistant Director General of the Employment and Development Corporation.
Delegates representing the Jordan Hotel Association, local hotel cooperatives, international hotel chains, the Jordan Tour Guides Association, the Capital of the Nabataeans Cooperative, and the Animal Owners Association also participated in the proceedings.
//Petra// AA
