Tourism sector heaves a sigh of relief as gov’t removes mandatory PCR testing for arrivals

AMMAN — The removal of mandatory PCR test for arrivals to the Kingdom has drawn positive reactions. 

The government announced on Thursday that as of March 1, they will remove the mandatory PCR tests for arrivals to the Kingdom at airports, land and sea crossings, whether they are Jordanian or non-Jordanian.

“Easing restrictions will result in a positive impact for the tourism sector in Jordan,” Abdel Razaq Arabeyat, Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) board director, said in a statement to The Jordan Times.

Arabeyat added that JTB has informed all international partners about the cancellation of on-arrival PCR tests, which in turn will contribute in reviving the tourism sector and increasing the numbers of tourists visiting the Kingdom. 

Economist Khaled Salameh said that the Kingdom witnessed a “steep drop in tourists’ arrivals, which resulted in huge losses for the tourism sector”. 

“The tourism sector contributes big time to the economy,” Salameh added. 

Salameh highlighted that “by enhancing the COVID-19 vaccine intake, we will support tourism’s safe restart which is critical to the recovery of jobs and generating much needed resources”. 

“We have to work on traveller’s confidence,” Zaid Ghanem, who runs a travel agency, told The Jordan Times. 

Ghanem said that his agency is working on a promotional programme which provides travel bundles for tourists, resulting in more night stays in the Kingdom and therefore increasing their spending. 

He also noted that globally most countries are heading towards eliminating all travel barriers whether it be pre-departure or on-arrival PCR tests and quarantine periods. This is in order to create demand for airlines and hotel bookings as well as more business for international travel agencies.

“I believe that easing restrictions came just in time before summer,” Ghanem added. 

Ghanem stated that “it is known that summer is the high season for tourism, therefore, we are hoping for a profitable summer for the tourism sector”.