Tourism Ministry to compensate for cancelling low-cost flights to Jordan

AMMAN — The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Saturday announced plans to compensate for the cancellation and reduction of low-cost flights to Jordan by offering financial incentives to airlines.

The decision targets low-cost, charter and scheduled airlines, including Royal Jordanian Airlines, to expand their routes in existing and new tourist markets.

In its recently published annual report, the ministry attributed the decline in air travel between Jordan and key tourism markets to the Israeli war on Gaza in October 2023, which led to the cancellation or reduction of operational routes by low-cost airlines.

According to the report, low-cost carriers operated 2,925 flights to Jordan in 2023, carrying 445,856 visitors. In contrast, only 1,308 flights were operated in 2024, carrying 182,254 visitors, marking a "sharp" decline of 263,602 visitors or 59 per cent compared to the previous year.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the Economic Modernisation Vision by advancing the government's tourism priorities.

Minister of Tourism Lina Annab, during a recent meeting with the Lower House Tourism Committee, had revealed that tourism revenues and visitor numbers in 2024 were lower than the previous year.

"Tourism numbers in 2023 were the highest in Jordan's history," Annab said.

She noted that tourism revenues in 2024 decreased by 2.3 per cent compared to 2023, amounting to JD5.132 billion, while the number of visitors decreased by 3.9 per cent, reaching 6.108 million in 2024, showing a decline of 3.9 per cent, in comparison with 2023.

In 2023, Jordan's tourism sector achieved "record success," attracting 6.353 million visitors and generating revenues of JD5.25 billion.