On Sunday, 22 March 2026, the Israeli Transportation Ministry ordered a reduction of traffic at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv following a security assessment. While only one incoming flight and one outgoing flight per hour are allowed at the airport, Israeli carrier Arkia decided to relocate part of its operations to Aqaba (Jordan) and Taba (Egypt).

“Under the current framework, it is not possible to maintain regular aviation operations, and in practice it amounts to the closure of Israel’s skies. The company cannot be required to choose between passengers who have already purchased tickets, and therefore we are preparing to shift most of our operations to Aqaba and Taba airports, in order to maintain aviation continuity as much as possible,” Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz said at the time.

However, all Arkia flights departing from Aqaba came to a standstill when the Jordan authorities introduced a policy change on Saturday, 28 March 2026. As Jordan is refusing approval for certain flights operated with European aircraft to operate within the country, Arkia flights scheduled at Aqaba were either cancelled or relocated to Taba in Egypt.

BREAKING: Arkia relocates operations abroad, effectively closing Israel’s skies under current restrictions.

Following limits at Ben Gurion Airport—50 passengers per flight—the airline will shift the bulk of its flights, including routes to New York, Bangkok, and Hanoi, to… pic.twitter.com/P8r2blAYsm

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 23, 2026

“Following the immediate and unexpected policy change, and in the absence of real-time regulatory approvals, flights scheduled to depart from Aqaba Airport are not authorized to operate. As a result, Arkia is forced to cancel flights from this airport until further notice. Arkia is working with the relevant authorities in an attempt to resume operations as soon as possible and will continue to update its passengers regularly regarding flight statuses,” Arkia said in a statement.

For example, the FL1217 flight from Aqaba to Athens on Sunday, 29 March was transferred to Taba Airport, with buses and Arkia representatives accompanying travellers to the airport. Arkia flights FL1728 from Aqaba to Budapest and FL1337 from Aqaba to Rome, however, were cancelled.

While the Israeli security and aviation sectors are communicating with the Jordan authorities on the matter at the time of writing, Arkia has published an updated flight schedule valid until 11 April 2026. Most flights departing from or arriving at Aqaba have been cancelled or relocated.

L’article Jordan policy change halts flights by Israeli carrier Arkia est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Shoubak is home to Petra, a destination that draws around a million visitors every year thanks to its well-known archaeological treasures, including the Al-Khazneh or “Treasury” tomb, a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage site. It was there that heavy rains brought sudden inundations on Sunday 4 May 2025, forcing people to seek shelter and await evacuation at the attraction’s entrance.

Missing overnight

The situation was shown in footage published by the Jordanian Meteorological Institute. The clips revealed water freefalling down sandstone rock faces and surging through ancient tracks. Crowds of people can be seen hurrying to the tomb entrance for assistance. The once-lost city believed to have been created by Nabateans who were skilled in dams, cisterns and water management, is prone to flooding and suffered heavy rains that led to evacuations in 2022.

This time an emergency response plan kicked in, said Yazan Mahadin, Commissioner of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA). Nonetheless, the woman and her three children were all missing overnight, Belga news agency reports. Rescue teams scoured the area and discovered the bodies of one child and the mother, who left behind two surviving children, according to national security forces.

The victims were “found after several hours of searching in difficult weather and terrain conditions,” a statement said. The family had been in a group of tourists participating in what Ma’an governor, Hassan al-Jabur, described to Al-Mamlaka TV as an “adventure trip.” They were not accompanied by an official guide. 14 Czech nationals were also part of the tour and escaped unharmed.

Investigation ongoing

The FPS Foreign Affairs confirmed the news on 5 May and said: “We are aware of this case and regret the death of our two fellow citizens.” Belgian officials are “following up this case closely together with our embassy in Amman. As this concerns individual cases, we cannot provide any further information,” the public service went on. According to Petra, an investigation into the exact circumstances of the deaths is ongoing.

Repairs have taken place and the attraction, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is already open again to the public, Mahadin has confirmed, adding that visitor and local resident safety are the authorities’ top priority.

L’article Jordan floods kill two Belgians and force evacuation of nearly 2,000 tourists est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

While at the beginning of 2023, the Middle Eastern Kingdom saw a 122% increase in tourism spent compared to the previous year, as well as a doubling of visitor numbers to over half a million, even exceeding pre-Covid figures, the nearby war has had a tremendous impact on the sector.

Despite reassurances from the Jordan Tourism Board that the country remained not only safe but also welcoming, the industry has struggled to recover. In the first 5 months of this year visitor numbers were 10% lower than last year, while, at $2.6 billion, revenue stayed 6.5% below 2023 figures.

In Petra specifically, hotel occupancy rates were only 3% in November last year, the month following the break-out of the neighbouring conflict. Ever since, occupancy has remained under or, at times, just slightly over 10%.

Despite the not very encouraging figures, the chief commissioner of Petra’s Development and Tourism Region Authority, Fares Braizat, has announced an investment drive to create 1,400 new hotel rooms in the World Heritage city. Local investors remain confident that the industry will recover soon and place their trust in the authority’s increasing marketing efforts, Braizat told Jordan News Agency.

Complementing the investor’s efforts, the government has set up a Tourism Development and Resilience Fund to provide financial assistance to businesses that have been affected the most. Moreover, marketing initiatives and rent waivers, alongside social security and tax relief measures are being taken to support the industry’s recovery, Braizat explained.

To counterbalance the reduced number of European and North American tourists to the city, the Development and Tourism Region Authority is now eyeing China, Russia, Africa, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, as well as regional Arab markets, with a focus on faith, adventure and medical and wellness tourism, as well as business travel.

It will take a great effort indeed to reach back to the same visitor numbers from the beginning of 2023. From October last year to the end of January this year, 90% of group trips booked through tour operators had been cancelled. The rate rose to 93% for the period from February to end of June. Moreover, 49 cruises to the region have already been cancelled this year, with chances of more cancellations to come. Airlines, including Transavia, Wizz Air, Edelweiss Air, EasyJet and Ryanair, have also stopped operating flights to the country, further damaging the tourism sector and impeding its recovery.

L’article Petra to get 1,400 new hotel rooms amid efforts to revive tourism est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

As deadly war and a state of emergency rage in Israel, many airlines have cancelled flights there, and tour operators, tourism sites and parks have shut down. To answer potential visitors’ concerns about coming to the region, the Jordan Tourist Board issued a statement to assure people that Jordan, unlike Israel, remains open for business.

Safe and welcoming

“In light of the recent developments in Gaza, we want to emphasise that Jordan continues to be a safe and welcoming destination for tourists from around the world,” the statement said.

As always, the Jordan Tourism Board is here to assist and support tourists in making the most of their visit.

The Jordan Tourism Board

Expressing a belief in the power of tourism to promote peace, the Tourist Board added:

“We want to reassure everyone that Jordan’s borders are open to tourists, and we are eager to share our extraordinary experiences with the world. We understand that tensions around the world can raise concerns, but we believe in the power of travel to foster understanding and build bridges between nations.”

Regional repercussions

Jordan borders Israel and its capital, Amman, is just 145 km (90 miles) from the border. It boasts five UNESCO World Heritage Sites and innumerable archaeological treasures. In normal times, it expects around 5 million visitors per year, though it was down to 80% of that in 2022 following Covid-19.

Nonetheless, a million people visited the world-famous “rose city” Petra and its rock-cut architecture last year and, following an historic agreement to open a Jordan-Israel air corridor in 2021, the country’s tourism industry appeared on track to make a good recovery. War in the region threatens that, prompting the Tourist Board’s statement.

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Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Ayman Al-Safadi, has also expressed concerns about the “repercussions on the entire region” of failing to protect civilians. He called for “immediate international action to stop the escalation” and respect and apply “international humanitarian laws.”

Flights

Services and flights at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman and King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba are proceeding as normal, at the time of writing.

However, OpsGroup, an expert aviation group, recalls that flight MH17 was downed in a conflict zone and warns that “the risk of a passenger aircraft becoming a casualty of this war is high.”

Travel Advisory

Meanwhile, Jordan’s own Travel Advisory echoes advice from other State Departments around the world in urging caution. Travel to within 3.5km of Jordan’s border with Syria and east of Ruwayshid town are to be avoided as are:

• designated Syrian refugee camps in Jordan and
• Zarqa, Rusayfah, and the Baqa’a neighbourhood of Ayn Basha due to risks of terrorism and crime

Anyone planning travel to Ma’an City and some areas of Ma’an Governorate should reconsider, it says. Consult Jordan’s Travel Advisory online for more information and guidance.

L’article Jordan remains “safe and welcoming”, says tourist board, amid regional war est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

“Adding Brussels to our ever-expanding network will allow tourists from Belgium to visit Jordan easily and directly,” said Karim Makhlouf, Royal Jordanian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer. “Facilitating tourism to the Kingdom is a core focus of RJ’s new strategy—as is our commitment to further developing Amman as the main gateway to the Levant, by offering improved connectivity to our broader network.”

We are thrilled to announce our new route to Brussels

Karim Makhlouf, Royal Jordanian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer

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In line with the airline’s strategic plan to modernize its narrow-body fleet, Royal Jordanian Airlines recently announced the purchase of 40 new narrow-body aircraft, including a fleet of 30 brand-new Airbus A320neos and E195-E2 Embraer commercial jets. “This new route is yet another step in line with our five-year growth plan, through which we also plan to significantly increase our fleet from 24 aircraft to more than 40 in the next three to five years,” said Makhlouf.

RJ was established in 1963 as the official national airline carrier of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and for the last 60 years, has been an ambassador of goodwill and friendship for the Kingdom, facilitating tourism and trade and providing people across the globe with an introduction to Jordan.

We are very happy to welcome Royal Jordanian Airlines back to Brussels Airport after a 10-year absence.

Arnaud Feist, Brussels Airport CEO.

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From its hub at Queen Alia International Airport, RJ operates a modern fleet of aircraft that flies to destinations worldwide, via an ever-expanding route network that connects Amman to Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Asia. As a member of the oneworld alliance, RJ and its 13 international airline partners provide a combined travel network that reaches more than 1,000 airports in 170 countries.

“As a modern country with a rich history, Jordan is a true gem and a great destination for a city break,” said Arnaud Feist, Brussels Airport CEO. “The fact that Royal Jordanian Airlines continues to modernize its fleet with energy-efficient aircraft fits perfectly within Brussels Airport’s sustainable development strategy.”

L’article Royal Jordanian Airlines returns to Brussels Airport after ten years of absence est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

“There is no pollution or exhaust gases. The change has reduced cases of animal abuse,” said Suleiman Farajat, head of the Petra Regional Development and Tourism Authority, as quoted by the agency. The vehicles have less impact because sometimes the carriage wheels hit the side of the natural canyon, and the horse manure causes a bad smell and is not easy to clean, Farajat said.

This year the animal rights organization PETA, a critic of the use of animal traction, had announced that it contributed to the initiative by lobbying local authorities. For animal advocates, the move was an important step forward for sustainable mobility but serves as a reminder that there is still much work to be done to protect animals.

They urge “officials in Jordan to end the use of animals altogether and instead use only modern vehicles in Petra to transport tourists,” the activists’ statement reads. For the time being, local authorities said they will keep some of the horses “to preserve the character of the site as a world heritage site.”

In addition to protecting animal rights, the change will make the archaeological site more accessible to disabled and elderly visitors. This measure also contemplated families whose main source of income is carriage rental, since the replacement of 12 horse-drawn carriages with 10 electric vehicles, in agreement with the owners, meant an increase in income for this sector.

“People with disabilities but also those who have difficulty walking for a long time can now see this wonderful place,” said Rudy, a 43-year-old Austrian tourist in a wheelchair, to Euronews.

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The carriages could only carry two people and now the electric cars can carry five passengers. The head of the horse owners’ association, Mohammad Amarat, told AFP of his preference for the new means of transport because previously the horses “were tired, the income was less and the travel time was longer”.

The city of Petra, built in the 1st century BC, was named one of the ‘new seven wonders of the world’ in 2007 by the New7Wonders project and is a popular tourist destination. According to Euronews, the ancient city in Jordan attracted more than one million visitors in 2019.

L’article Electric vehicles to offer enhanced mobility options in ancient city of Petra est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Mirroring the situation of the saltiest bodies of water on the planet, Jordan’s tourist numbers had also been dwindling for a number of years. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic and everything worsened. According to the UN World Tourism Organization, tourism revenues fell to $1.4 billion in 2020, a fall of 76% on the previous year. According to the World Bank, Jordan saw tourist numbers drop from 8 million in 2010 to 4.24 million in 2016.

It is in this context that during World Travel Market this month in London, Jordan’s Tourism Board has launched a new campaign, branding itself the “Kingdom of Time.” The campaign is the country’s latest effort to win back visitors.

Twenty months later, Jordan is back, ready to unveil its new tourism brand, as an authentic reflection of a destination which, within a land that can be traversed by car in less than a day

Nayef Al-Fayez, Jordan’s Minister of Tourism

With its bold ‘Kingdom of Time’ brand platform, Jordan is reintroducing itself as an accessible, intriguing and multifaceted destination that appeals to the rising global tribe of intrepid travelers; independent, active, digital-empowered explorers and travelers seeking meaningful experiences and human connection.

In early 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic brought to an abrupt halt what was already a multi-year acceleration and diversification of the Jordan tourism offering. Beyond the world wonder of Petra, the country was getting global attention for award-winning nature and adventures like the Jordan Trail that traverses the Kingdom from north to south.

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The Trail offers views of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea at the planet’s lowest point, for its urban and town tourism, with the band Coldplay choosing the ancient Roman and Islamic ruins in the heart of the contemporary capital Amman as a stage to launch their November 2019 album Everyday Life, and for attracting seekers of authentic flavors to enjoy the mosaic of Arabic culinary delights of the Jordanian kitchen.

“Jordan fuses together a dizzying collage of geological and natural diversity, historical richness, a tradition of spirituality and faith, and a contemporary Arabian culture of openness and warm hospitality that welcomes everyone for leisure, business and healing,” said Nayef Al-Fayez, Jordan’s Minister of Tourism.

Jordan’s core brand promise as ‘The Kingdom of Time’ appears to be very relevant today: a place where one can literally touch all of geological time and human history, where time can accelerate in a bustling city center, or go to slow-motion during a dive of Aqaba’s Red Sea underwater coral forests, or even come to a total standstill in the desert of Wadi Rum, under a clear starry sky that unveils the Milky Way.

Jordan’s new tourism brand also marks a shift in the role of tourism as a driver local sustainable development

Abdel Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board

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“Co-created with a wide spectrum of Jordan’s tourism, cultural and creative communities, the brand was conceived by the Jordan Tourism Board in cooperation with an alliance of local and global firms, designed as an inclusive catalyst to spread tourism across the Kingdom, benefiting both traditional tourism operators and our emerging generation of hyper-local tourism experience creators,” said Abdel Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board.

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Beyond brand building, Jordan’s government and tourism business have worked diligently to ensure the health safety of citizens and guests. The Kingdom’s successful efforts at preventing a first Covid-19 wave made global headlines in 2020. “Today we are one of the first countries in the region with a fully vaccinated tourism sector,” added Al-Fayez.

L’article Dead Sea shrinking while Jordan attempts to revamp itself as a tourist destination est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.