The Cabinet approved the package on 27 July 2026 following consultations between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and local business representatives. The measures address financial pressures affecting hotels, travel agencies, tour guides and other tourism-related operators in the Petra region.
A central part of the Petra tourism relief package concerns employee wages. The government will cover 50% of wages eligible for social security contributions for nearly 900 employees working in local tourism establishments.
It will also cover 35% of eligible wages for more than 500 employees at internationally branded hotels in Petra. Both wage-support measures will remain in place until the end of 2026.
In addition, 280 employees whose work has been suspended will receive wage support for six months. The measure is designed to support their return to employment and restore their social security coverage.
Tourism establishments in Petra will be permitted to defer loan instalments for one year. The government will cover approximately JD2.27 million in interest accumulated during the deferral period.
The Cabinet also expanded a soft-loan programme for tour guides across Jordan. The programme’s deposit fund will be increased, while the government will absorb the associated interest charges.
Further measures provide for the rescheduling of income tax, sales tax, water and electricity obligations owed by affected Petra businesses. Establishments selecting a one-year repayment plan will receive a full waiver of interest and penalties.
Businesses choosing a two-year payment schedule will receive a 50% waiver of interest and penalties. The arrangements are intended to reduce immediate operating costs while allowing establishments to maintain their activities and employment levels.
The Jordan Tourism Board has also been authorised to defer, divide or waive subscription fees payable by local travel agencies. These arrangements can be applied without additional penalties.
The government will allocate 10% of dues collected from cooperatives and companies operating at the Petra archaeological site to the region’s Risk Management Fund. The fund is intended to provide financial resources for responding to future disruptions affecting local tourism operations.
The support plan also includes promotional programmes targeting Arab and international source markets. These activities will focus on increasing visitor numbers and extending the average length of stay in Petra.
Earlier proposals discussed by tourism officials included packages targeting travellers from Gulf countries, Egypt, Lebanon, Russia and Arab communities in Israel. The proposed programmes would involve cooperation with Royal Jordanian Airlines and the Arab Bridge Maritime Company.
The Cabinet also established a committee to regulate the issue of new hotel licences in Petra. Future accommodation development will be linked to market demand and the destination’s existing room capacity.
The licensing measure introduces a supply-control mechanism during a period of reduced international demand. It covers future hotel capacity rather than the operations of existing accommodation businesses.
The Petra tourism relief measures follow a separate package approved by the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority earlier in July. That package included a 95% exemption from additional waste collection fees for tourism and commercial establishments during 2026.
Tenants at Petra’s new commercial market were also granted a 10% exemption from service fees. Meanwhile, a debt-settlement initiative was introduced for tenants at the old commercial complex, where outstanding liabilities exceeded JD300,000.
Jordan’s Social Security Corporation has introduced additional financial arrangements for tourism and supporting businesses. Eligible establishments can restructure outstanding social security debts through instalment plans carrying a subsidised annual interest rate of 1%.
The first payment under those arrangements can be deferred until April 2027. Primary tourism establishments can apply directly through Social Security Corporation branches, while supporting businesses must first obtain certification confirming their connection to the tourism sector.
Jordan has also introduced new tourism products intended to generate accommodation demand in Petra. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities launched the Ahlan Jordan digital platform on 19 July, providing tourism programmes lasting between three and eight days.
Packages start from $180 per person and include accommodation, transport, tour-guide services and admission to selected archaeological sites. All programmes offered through the platform include an overnight stay in Petra.
Official figures show that Petra received approximately 204,217 visitors between January and May 2026. The total represented an 11% decline from the 229,575 visitors recorded during the same period of 2025.
International visitors totalled 143,427 during the five-month period, compared with 180,368 one year earlier. By contrast, domestic visitor numbers increased from 29,207 to 60,790.
Petra recorded 582,550 visitors during 2025, representing a 27% increase from 457,215 in 2024. However, the latest figures indicate that the recovery remained exposed to regional developments and changes in international travel demand.
Regional aviation disruption intensified during July 2026. On 22 July, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) advised airlines not to operate in Jordanian airspace following increased military activity, with the advisory remaining valid until 31 August.
The JD5 million package combines short-term payroll and financial support with measures covering operating costs, destination marketing and accommodation development. Implementation will involve the tourism ministry, financial authorities, the Petra regional authority and tourism-sector organisations.
Tags: Jordan Tourism Board Petra tourism