Ajloun Forest Reserve stays nearly empty during Ramadan — official

AMMAN — The occupancy rate at Ajloun Forest Reserve does not exceed 10 per cent during the holy month of Ramadan, the reserve’s manager said on Sunday.

“It is common knowledge that businesses during the holy month of Ramadan perform less when compared with other months,” Ajloun Forest Reserve Manager Othman Tawalbeh told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Tawalbeh added they are currently offering discounts until the end of April with the aim to encourage people to visit and increase sales. He noted that before Ramadan started, the occupancy rate ranged from 60 to 80 per cent on weekdays and almost 100 per cent on weekends.

The zip line always draws the guests’ interest, he noted. 

“Our guests now come on Thursday and leave on Saturday. Most of whom are non-Muslim visitors and foreigners who reside in the Kingdom,” according to Tawalbeh, who noted that there are no foreigners coming to the reserve from abroad. 

Ramadan is a time when Muslims engage in more prayers and focus more on the spiritual side, Batool Khatatneh, a Jordanian citizen told The Jordan Times on Sunday. 

“We never went on a staycation during Ramadan. When people fast, they are less active,” Khatatneh said.

As for Ola Mohammad, 35, Ramadan is not the best time to go on a staycation as they cannot enjoy all the food and beverages during the outing.