US-Israel Conflict with Iran Devastates Jordan Tourism, Petra Nearly Empty

Ukrainian tourist Ruslana Novak and her companion had nearly all of Jordan's ancient city of Petra to themselves as they stood before the vast, rose-hued sandstone facade.

Since the US-Israel war against Iran began in late February, the famous Rose City has been largely deserted, with crowds of foreign tourists all but vanished.

“Of course, we heard about the war... It doesn't matter because I am from Ukraine and we know about war,” Novak, an insurance agent, told AFP. “This country is surrounded by countries at war, but Jordan is... very peaceful,” she described it as safe and beautiful.

At the entrance to the archaeological site, souvenir vendor Khalid al-Saidat and his colleagues loitered before their stalls, cigarettes dangling. The donkeys and horses that usually ferry tourists through the valley also stood idle. This scene, he said, reflects “the collapse of the tourism industry” in Jordan.

“The war in Gaza had already reduced tourism by 80 to 90 percent, while the conflict with Iran has brought the number of foreign visitors down to almost zero. We open every day without knowing if we'll make enough to live,” he added.

According to official figures, tourism accounts for 14% of Jordan's GDP, with 60,000 people directly employed in the sector and 300,000 others depending on it. Last year, over 7 million visitors brought in $7.8 billion in revenue.

Beyond Petra, Jordan boasts other major attractions, including the lunar landscapes of Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, and the famous archaeological site of Jerash.

This year started very strong, “with 112,000 foreign tourists in the first two months, which was a very good number,” said Adnan al-Sawair, chairman of the board of commissioners of the Petra tourism authority. “But everything changed after the war.” The impact was immediate, with visitor numbers to Petra in March and April dropping to just 28,000 to 30,000.

Cancellations were so severe that some hotels are considering closure. The authorities have launched a domestic tourism incentive program, but its impact remains “negligible,” Sawair said, as the industry relies overwhelmingly on foreign tour groups.

Since the war began, debris from drones and missiles has fallen on the kingdom. Jordan hosts no foreign military bases but has limited troops from several countries under joint defense and cooperation agreements. The Jordanian military said 281 Iranian missiles and drones were fired toward the country from the start of the conflict through early April, most of which were intercepted.

Before the war, booking calendars at travel companies were nearly full, according to the national association. Then they emptied, triggering a crisis for 1,400 licensed guides.

Facing a lack of customers, souvenir vendor Ibrahim al-Atmeh packed up his goods earlier than usual. “We had hoped for a wonderful spring, but... our hopes have evaporated,” the 31-year-old said.