Aqaba, August 23 (Petra) - The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) launched three new tourism support programs on Sunday for 2026 to boost visitor demand, extend hotel stays, and support marketing for Aqaba and Wadi Rum.

ASEZA introduced the subsidies at a meeting with tourism leaders, targeting domestic, international, and business event travel.

Under the new package, domestic travel agencies will receive a JD5 subsidy per hotel night, capped at JD40,000 annually per agency.

International tour operators will receive $15 per visitor for stays of three nights or more, rising to $25 for stays of five nights or more, with an annual cap of JD50,000 per agency.

For the business sector, ASEZA will reimburse 10 percent of eligible expenses for corporate events and exhibitions with two-night stays and 12 percent for three nights or more (minimum 50 participants), capped at JD25,000 for domestic events and JD35,000 for international events.

Latest performance metrics shared by ASEZA show "strong growth" in the region. Aqaba and Wadi Rum welcomed approximately 1.03 million visitors in the first half of the year, with hotel stays reaching 382,800 guests and the average stay increasing from 1.9 to 2.2 nights. Diving activities also surged 36.8 percent, drawing 26,076 divers.

To accommodate future demand, Aqaba plans to add 5,125 new hotel rooms to its current 7,000-room inventory, with 2,500 expected by 2027.

Officials also pointed to expanded direct air connectivity, including routes to Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Moscow, alongside efforts to boost niche travel, including culinary, sports, and ecotourism.

//Petra// HA