The Jordan Hotels Association (JHA) and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) held an extensive meeting to explore opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing the tourism and hospitality ecosystem in Aqaba, with the aim of enhancing the destination’s competitiveness, improving service quality, supporting investment, and developing the capabilities of the sector’s workforce.

The meeting addressed a number of key priorities, including the development of specialized training programs, enhanced coordination on tourism campaigns and events, the exchange of expertise and sectoral data, and support for hotel establishments in addressing operational challenges. Discussions also focused on designing joint initiatives that would encourage longer visitor stays, diversify the visitor experience, and maximize the economic impact of tourism activity.

His Excellency Mr. Shadi Al-Majali, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, emphasized that the hospitality sector represents a cornerstone of Aqaba’s tourism and economic landscape. He noted that the next phase requires a deeper partnership between public institutions and the private sector—one that moves beyond traditional coordination toward joint planning and the development of practical, measurable initiatives.

He further affirmed ASEZA’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for tourism investment, addressing the challenges facing hospitality establishments, and continuously enhancing Aqaba’s tourism product in line with its position as Jordan’s only coastal gateway and one of the region’s leading tourism and investment destinations.

For his part, Mr. Hussein Hilalat, Chairman of the Board  of the Jordan Hotels Association, stressed that strengthening Aqaba’s competitiveness is not solely dependent on increasing visitor numbers, but rather on creating a comprehensive tourism experience that begins the moment a visitor arrives and extends throughout every stage of the journey—from accommodation quality and service excellence to events, accessibility, and the diversity of tourism offerings.

He affirmed that the Association will continue working closely with ASEZA and hotel establishments to develop practical and sustainable solutions that contribute to increasing occupancy rates, improving operational performance, and enhancing the capacity of hotels to grow and create employment opportunities. He added that genuine partnerships should ultimately be measured by the tangible impact they deliver on the ground.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hani Al-Dabbas, Vice Chairman of the Board of the Jordan Hotels Association, underscored that investment in human capital is the most important driver of sectoral development. He highlighted the need to establish joint training programs that are aligned with the actual needs of the labor market while keeping pace with the rapidly evolving fields of hospitality, digital marketing, revenue management, and guest experience.

He added that cooperation between the Association and ASEZA should lay the foundation for a long-term strategic partnership built on unified efforts, knowledge exchange, and the development of clear performance indicators to measure progress. He emphasized that Aqaba possesses all the necessary assets to become a leading model of integrated tourism management when partnerships evolve from exchanging ideas into delivering sustainable results.

For his part, Dr. Thabet Al-Nabulsi, Commissioner for Tourism and Youth Affairs at ASEZA, commended the Jordan Hotels Association for its pivotal role in representing the hospitality sector and advancing its development. He emphasized the importance of greater integration in the areas of training, employment, marketing, and event organization to further strengthen Aqaba’s position on the regional and international tourism map.

He also noted that advancing the tourism sector requires a vision that extends beyond seasonality by creating diverse tourism programs and experiences capable of attracting new visitor segments throughout the year, while simultaneously empowering young people, enhancing their professional skills, and creating promising career pathways in the tourism and hospitality industries.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties reaffirmed the importance of maintaining close coordination and holding regular follow-up meetings to translate the discussed priorities into practical programs and initiatives that support the hospitality sector, enhance Aqaba’s attractiveness as a destination, and contribute to achieving more sustainable tourism and economic development.