Amman, Jan. 26 (Petra) - The Lower House's Tourism and Antiquities Committee, chaired by MP Salem Omari, met on Monday with Mahmoud Khasawneh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jordan Society of Tourism and Travel Agents, board members, and the society’s Director General Talal Al-Majali to discuss key challenges facing the tourism sector, ways to develop and enhance its competitiveness, and updating regulations governing the sector to meet current needs and requirements.

Omari emphasized the importance of reviewing tourism-related laws and regulations to strengthen Jordan’s competitiveness as a tourist destination, stressing the need for a unified framework for the sector to coordinate efforts among various stakeholders.

He noted that Jordan is an important destination for medical and religious tourism, calling for leveraging these advantages to expand the economic development base, open new tourism markets to support local employment, and develop Jordan’s tourism products to reflect their diversity and enhance their appeal to visitors from around the world.

Committee members MPs Youssef Alrawadyeh, Nabil Al-Shishani, Mai Alzayadneh, Jamal Qammoh, and Najma Alhawawsheh, expressed full support for all efforts to advance the sector, stressing the importance of public-private partnerships and consulting field professionals when preparing or amending legislation to serve the sector and the national economy.

Khasawneh highlighted the vital role of the travel and tourism sector in supporting the national economy, stressing the importance of cooperation with the parliamentary committee to accelerate the sector’s recovery.

He noted that Jordan has approximately 815 travel and tourism offices, providing around 6,000 jobs, underscoring the need for a supportive legislative and regulatory environment to ensure sector sustainability and enhance its contribution to economic development.

He called for updating the Tourism Law to meet current requirements, opening new tourism markets, resuming charter flights to boost tourism activity and visitor numbers, and tightening oversight of unlicensed operators to protect Jordan’s tourism reputation.

Khasawneh also urged Jordan to join the global aviation network to strengthen its position on the international air transport map, support tourism growth, increase air traffic, and unify holiday calendars in Arab countries to promote regional tourism.

//Petra// AF