Eid Adha boosts local tourism: Booking increase reported

AMMAN — As Eid Adha is around the corner, tourism sector representatives affirm that the long holiday will bring a boost to local tourism businesses.

Speaking with The Jordan Times, Mahmoud Janab, owner of tour and travel centre, said that “people have been inquiring about the trips in different areas across the country… but majorly about Aqaba and the Dead Sea”.

He indicated that inbound tourism bookings increased by around 30-50 per cent during the week-long holiday.

Adding that demand for domestic travel tours to the northern parts of the country have also soared.

According to Vice-President of the Jordan Hotels Association (JHA) Hussein Halalat, “the occupancy rate in five-star hotels in Amman during Eid is nearly 52 per cent, in four-star hotel around 37 per cent and 30 per cent in three-star hotel”.

He pointed out that occupancy rates are the highest in Aqaba, reaching almost 75 per cent in five-star hotels. While in Petra occupancy levels have majorly dropped during the current period.

Similarly, the “Urdun Jannah” programme, which encourages domestic tourism, has attracted significant numbers of tourists for the upcoming Eid holiday.

The Ministry of Toursim, in this regard, has established a comprehensive plan for Eid Adha, during which ministry field teams would be monitoring the tourism services and products provided for local visitors and tourists.