Latest news with #regionaltensions
Skift
17-07-2025
- Business
- Skift
Jordan Sets Tourism Record Despite June Dip from ‘Regional Tensions'
Jordan just had its best six months for tourism since records began, but officials say the country is still being held back by regional tensions. Jordan's tourism ministry said the country recorded its best-ever six months for tourism this year, drawing 2.7 million international overnight visitors — even as officials say regional tensions continue to weigh on the sector. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities data released this month shows the most international overnight stays since records began in 2006. Jordanians abroad returning home were the largest source market, accounting for around 745,000 visits. Saudi Arabia, Syria, Palestine and Israel were also in the top five. Revenues from tourism climbed 11.9% year-over-year to reach $3.7 billion – a strong performance despite a downturn in June attributed to 'regional tensions.' 2023 was Jordan's best year on record for tourism spending, which by June had generated $3.5 billion. Data released by the Central Bank of Jordan released Wednesday shows that tourism revenue dipped 3.7% in June to $619.2 million. The state-run Jordan News Agency chalked up the dip to 'geopolitical tensions in the region.' But visitor numbers alone don't paint the whole picture. Jordan's tourism sites and attractions were less visited during those six months than years prior. Tourism sites saw 1.4 million visitors in the period compared to a high of 3.3 million in 2023. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities did not respond to a request for comment. The tourism ministry is betting on momentum continuing throughout the rest of 2025. Officials believe a full rebound from the impact of the Gaza conflict is possible by year's end. In a report on tourism in the first quarter, the ministry said: 'The start of 2025 is very promising in terms of an increase in the number of tourists. The outlook for the rest of 2025 looks positive, thus making a full recovery from the impact of the war on Gaza a distinct possibility.' Promoting The Country At the Skift Global Forum East 2024 in Dubai last November, Jordan's minister of tourism and antiquities, Lina Annab, said her focus was to promote the country as a safe destination 'What are we doing to reassure? We are utilizing typical marketing techniques. We're saying: 'Don't take our word for it, just visit.' We have influencers, celebrities come to Jordan to share their stories. Time and time again, we find that Jordan is much more resilient than we even thought.' 'This reassurance [doesn't come] just by saying how safe it is. The resilience of the Jordanian tourism sector is shown to travelers who come here. Jordan is on the bucket list of every person I've met. When we look at today's travelers and what Jordan is offering, I don't think there is a better match in terms of the authenticity of the product [and] the experiences.' To sustain growth, the ministry said in its report it is diversifying its source markets and product offerings. The ministry is targeting travelers from China, Russia, Africa, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Arab expatriates living in the Gulf.
Arab News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan joins SCO foreign ministers' summit as Delhi-Islamabad tensions simmer
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, has arrived in China to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), the Pakistani foreign ministry said on Monday, amid prevailing regional tensions. The meeting comes amid simmering regional tensions, particularly between India and Pakistan, following New Delhi's refusal to sign a recent SCO joint statement over its omission of a deadly April attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. The SCO, a trans-regional bloc comprising China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Iran, and Central Asian states, is expected to deliberate on pressing regional and global security, connectivity, and economic issues at the CFM meeting in Tianjin on July 15-16. Upon arrival in Beijing, Dar was received by Ambassador Yu Hong, a member of the Chinese's foreign ministry's Department of Asian Affairs, and Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Khalil-ur-Rehman Hashmi, along with other Chinese foreign ministry officials. 'DPM/FM will lead Pakistan's delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tianjin tomorrow, call on the President of China along with other SCO Foreign Ministers, and hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO member states,' the Pakistani foreign ministry said. The CFM is the third highest forum in the SCO format that focuses on the issues of international relations as well as foreign and security policies of China-backed SCO. Last month, Beijing's bid for enhanced regional leadership suffered a setback when India rejected signing a joint statement put before defense ministers of the SCO, seen by some Western analysts as a regional grouping by China and Russia to counter United States influence in Asia, with New Delhi saying it was 'pro-Pakistan' in not mentioning April's attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for backing the gunmen behind the April 22 killing of 26 people. Islamabad denies the charge. In May, India and Pakistan exchanged fighter jet, missile, drone and artillery strikes for four days over the Kashmir attack, killing around 70 people on both sides before agreeing to US-brokered ceasefire. Separately, India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing that the two countries must resolve friction along their border, pull back troops and avoid 'restrictive trade measures' to normalize their relationship, Reuters reported on Monday. Jaishankar arrived in Beijing on his first trip to China since 2020, when a deadly border clash between their troops led to a four-year military standoff and damaged ties until a thaw began in October, when they agreed to step back. 'It is now incumbent on us to address other aspects related to the border, including de-escalation,' Jaishankar was quoted as saying. Jaishankar met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng earlier in the day, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported. Han told Jaishankar that India and China should steadily advance practical cooperation and respect each other's concerns.
Arab News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan's Dar in China to attend SCO Council of Foreign Ministers amid regional tensions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, has arrived in China to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), the Pakistani foreign ministry said on Monday, amid prevailing regional tensions. The meeting comes amid simmering regional tensions, particularly between India and Pakistan, following New Delhi's refusal to sign a recent SCO joint statement over its omission of a deadly April attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. The SCO, a trans-regional bloc comprising China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Iran, and Central Asian states, is expected to deliberate on pressing regional and global security, connectivity, and economic issues at the CFM meeting in Tianjin on July 15-16. Upon arrival in Beijing, Dar was received by Ambassador Yu Hong, a member of the Chinese's foreign ministry's Department of Asian Affairs, and Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Khalil-ur-Rehman Hashmi, along with other Chinese foreign ministry officials. 'DPM/FM will lead Pakistan's delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tianjin tomorrow, call on the President of China along with other SCO Foreign Ministers, and hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO member states,' the Pakistani foreign ministry said. The CFM is the third highest forum in the SCO format that focuses on the issues of international relations as well as foreign and security policies of China-backed SCO. Last month, Beijing's bid for enhanced regional leadership suffered a setback when India rejected signing a joint statement put before defense ministers of the SCO, seen by some Western analysts as a regional grouping by China and Russia to counter United States influence in Asia, with New Delhi saying it was 'pro-Pakistan' in not mentioning April's attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for backing the gunmen behind the April 22 killing of 26 people. Islamabad denies the charge. In May, India and Pakistan exchanged fighter jet, missile, drone and artillery strikes for four days over the Kashmir attack, killing around 70 people on both sides before agreeing to US-brokered ceasefire. Separately, India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing that the two countries must resolve friction along their border, pull back troops and avoid 'restrictive trade measures' to normalize their relationship, Reuters reported on Monday. Jaishankar arrived in Beijing on his first trip to China since 2020, when a deadly border clash between their troops led to a four-year military standoff and damaged ties until a thaw began in October, when they agreed to step back. 'It is now incumbent on us to address other aspects related to the border, including de-escalation,' Jaishankar was quoted as saying. Jaishankar met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng earlier in the day, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported. Han told Jaishankar that India and China should steadily advance practical cooperation and respect each other's concerns.
Arab News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
FM Dar to represent Pakistan at SCO Council of Foreign Ministers today amid regional tensions
ISLAMABAD: Deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, will be leading the Pakistani delegation at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in China today, Monday, the Pakistani foreign ministry said, with member states expected to discuss key regional and global issues at the forum. The meeting comes amid simmering regional tensions, particularly between India and Pakistan, following New Delhi's refusal to sign a recent SCO joint statement over its omission of a deadly April attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. The SCO, a trans-regional bloc comprising China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Iran, and Central Asian states, is expected to deliberate on pressing regional and global security, connectivity, and economic issues. Dar is attending the CFM meeting, being held in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin on July 14-16, at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to the Pakistani foreign ministry. 'The deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the CFM meeting,' it said in a statement on Sunday. The CFM is the third highest forum in the SCO format that focuses on the issues of international relations as well as foreign and security policies of China-backed SCO. Last month, Beijing's bid for enhanced regional leadership suffered a setback when India rejected signing a joint statement put before defense ministers of the SCO, seen by some Western analysts as a regional grouping by China and Russia to counter United States influence in Asia, with New Delhi saying it was pro-Pakistan in not mentioning April's attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for backing the gunmen behind the April 22 killing of 26 people. Islamabad denies the charge. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said the statement diluted India's position on critical issues such as terrorism and regional security, The Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. Singh alleged the joint statement 'suited Pakistan's narrative' because it did not include that attack but mentioned militant activities in Balochistan. Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of backing separatists in its Balochistan province, allegations that India denies. In May, India and Pakistan exchanged fighter jet, missile, drone and artillery strikes for four days over the Kashmir attack, killing around 70 people on both sides before agreeing to US-brokered ceasefire.
Zawya
20-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Hotel occupancy in Jordan drops ‘sharply' amid regional tensions — JHA
AMMAN — Hotel occupancy rates across several Jordanian areas have declined during the third week of June 2025, reflecting negative indicators for the current tourism season, according to data issued by the Jordan Hotels Association (JHA) on Thursday. In Amman, hotel occupancy dropped by 16 per cent compared to the previous week, with rates ranging between 42 and 28 per cent at most establishments, Al Mamlaka TV reported. Five-star hotels in the capital recorded the highest occupancy rate at 42 per cent, followed by four-star hotels at 31 per cent and three-star hotels at 28 per cent. The association attributed the decline to ongoing regional tensions and escalations, which have negatively impacted tourist activity and hotel occupancy, particularly in Amman, which typically receives visitors from diverse nationalities. In the Dead Sea area, occupancy fell by 22 per cent compared to the previous week, with five-star hotels recording a rate of 25 per cent and four-star hotels at 18 per cent. The JHA noted that Petra is among the 'hardest-hit' areas due to its heavy reliance on European and international tourism. Cancellation rates in the rose-red city have reached nearly 95 per cent, with the remaining bookings primarily made by tourists who had entered Jordan prior to the latest crisis. No new tour groups have arrived since the escalation began, the JHA reported. Five-star hotels in Petra reported an occupancy rate of just 9 per cent, while both four-star and three-star hotels recorded rates of 3 per cent. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
