The Middle East was a holiday hotspot for many tourists, largely due to the region’s well-developed infrastructure, warm climate, rich cultural offerings and its proximity to the UK.
Just a few hours away from London, spots like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Dubai all saw soaring international tourist arrivals – but Brits and other visitors are now thinking twice about heading to the Middle East.
The ongoing conflict among Israel and Iran as well as the region’s close proximity to war-torn Gaza has seen a worrying decline in tourist numbers.
And this summer, several airlines including Wizz Air and British Airways temporarily suspended to and from a country that is home to a lost city.
Jordan has been hit hard by the continued conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Safety is a major concern for many visitors. While certain areas of Jordan are deemed generally safe by the Foreign Office, there is a warning against others such as the Jordan-Syria border.
The Foreign Office (FCD) advice for Jordan as of October 2 advises travellers to “be particularly cautious” in areas close to the Jordan borders as the situation was “fragile” with “security threats in the form of instability or terrorist activity could arise with little or no notice.”
Jordan experienced a significant drop in tourism over the summer with the country’s tourist board reporting a 23.7 percent decrease among Brit travellers, the Independent reports.
The drop in tourist footfall has inevitably hit Jordan’s tourism revenue impacting the country’s “livelihood”.
Managing director EMEA at Intrepid Travel said: “Tourism is a vital source of income in both countries and many people rely on it for their livelihood. The last year has been very tough for our local teams.”
Tourists are currently able to visit most of Jordan’s tourist areas safely, including Petra.
Petra is the country’s lost city and most famous site. It is generally considered safe for tourists to visit, but Brits should always check Foreign Office advice before booking a holiday.
Famed for its archeological wonder, Petra is also a UNESCO World Heritages Site and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World with only a few people previously living in and around Petra.
Over time, the city was lost to the outside world with more than 500 years passing before the ancient city was rediscovered by Western explorers.
Notable spots in Petra loved by tourists include The Royal Tombs, The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Great Temple, The Roman Theatre and The Colonnaded Street.
“Petra is the star highlight of Jordan visit. It’s is a huge city in itself and you walk through thousands of years old of history,” wrote one TripAdvisor review.
With another adding: “Jordan is a beautiful country to visit. People are very welcoming and warm.”
