Jordan: Hotel industry on path to pre-pandemic levels

Jordan: Hotel industry on path to pre-pandemic levels

AMMAN — The hotel industry in Jordan is rebounding faster than expected, according to the Jordan Hotels Association (JHA).

“The industry’s recovery is progressing at a solid rate,” JHA spokesperson and board member Mohammed Al Qasim, told The Jordan Times, predicting its return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024.

The recovery process was expedited by low cost carriers and flights which allowed the Kingdom’s tourism sector to tap into new markets and receive more visitors, he added.

“Jordan’s track record as a safe and stable destination, despite current turbulences in the region was also a contributing factor,” he continued.

The Kingdom’s tourism income increased by 115 per cent during the first 11 months of 2022, compared with the same period of 2021, reaching $5.3 billion, according to the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ).

“This is indicative of the sector’s potential to create jobs and boost Jordan’s economic growth,” said Qasim.

The tourism sector has a “multiplier effect” across various other sectors, including transport, food services and entertainment, marked by its ability to create a diversified range of employment opportunities, he noted.

However, persisting challenges, such as skilled labour shortages, continue to pose a threat to the hotel industry’s recovery, according to Qasim.

JHA’s 2022 statistics show that the Kingdom’s