At the Association’s headquarters, the Chairman and the Board Members welcomed His Excellency the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Imad Hijazin, in the presence of His Excellency Eng. Salem Al-Omari, Chairman of the Parliamentary Tourism and Antiquities Committee. The expanded consultative meeting comes within the framework of strengthening cooperation and integration between the public and private sectors, as well as the legislative authority, in a manner that supports the development and sustainability of the tourism and hospitality sector in the Kingdom.

At the outset of the meeting, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jordan Hotels Association, Mr. Hussein Hilalat, welcomed the attendees, expressing his appreciation for the Minister’s continued interest in and support for the sector. He also commended the effective legislative and oversight role undertaken by the Parliamentary Tourism and Antiquities Committee, chaired by Eng. Salem Al-Omari. Mr. Hilalat emphasized that this meeting reflects an advanced level of institutional partnership in addressing the issues facing the hotel sector.

Mr. Hilalat further noted that the hotel sector is facing accumulated challenges that require strategic solutions and practical decisions to ensure its sustainability and enhance its competitiveness. He stressed the importance of joint action among all relevant stakeholders to safeguard the sector’s continuity and its vital role in the national economy.

For his part, His Excellency the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Imad Hijazin, underscored the importance of strengthening partnership with the Jordan Hotels Association as the representative umbrella of the hotel sector. He noted that advancing the tourism sector requires integrated efforts between the public and private sectors, as well as the modernization of tools and policies in line with current demands to further enhance Jordan’s tourism position.

In turn, His Excellency Eng. Salem Al-Omari affirmed that the tourism and hotel sector constitutes a fundamental pillar of the national economy, highlighting the importance of strengthening supportive legislation and unifying efforts among all stakeholders to ensure its sustainability and boost its competitiveness.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the key challenges facing the hotel sector, foremost among them financial constraints and operational pressures. They emphasized the need to adopt supportive measures that contribute to the sector’s sustainability and enhance its competitiveness, in addition to reinforcing Jordan’s position on the global tourism map.

The discussions also addressed ways to promote medical tourism and the importance of easing restrictions on certain nationalities associated with this segment, which would contribute to stimulating tourism activity and increasing hotel occupancy rates.

The meeting further covered the development of national tourism programs, particularly the “Urdun Jannah” program, in a manner that supports domestic tourism and generates a direct economic impact on local communities.

Participants stressed the importance of supporting the hotel sector as a key employment-generating industry that contributes to job creation for the local workforce and to the gross domestic product. They also highlighted the need to consider establishing a fund for the development of the tourism sector as a sustainable support mechanism.

Moreover, the attendees emphasized the importance of conducting a comprehensive assessment study to evaluate the extent of the damage incurred by the sector in recent periods, enabling the development of realistic, data-driven policies. They also called for examining hotel operating costs and identifying areas of increase with a view to addressing them and advocating for their reduction to enhance the sector’s competitiveness. In addition, they underscored the need to target new alternative tourism markets and to launch integrated marketing and promotional campaigns for the post-crisis phase, thereby strengthening Jordan’s tourism presence. The importance of attracting and reinstating low-cost airlines to support inbound tourism and stimulate demand for Jordan as a destination was also highlighted.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants reaffirmed the importance of continuing joint efforts among all relevant stakeholders through the activation of specialized committees to identify sector priorities and study them systematically. This approach aims to enhance responsiveness to challenges and translate recommendations into actionable and implementable measures. They also emphasized the importance of strengthening electronic connectivity and unifying databases among concerned entities to improve planning efficiency and support data-driven decision-making, reflecting a spirit of partnership and integration in service of the tourism and hospitality sector.