Ammon News - The rose-red city of Petra has been completely closed since the beginning of the pandemic back in March 2020 until this day and hotel occupancy rates are very weak in Amman, Aqaba and the Dead Sea region, according to officials.

President of the Jordan Hotel Association Abd Al Hakim Al Hindi on Sunday met with Director General of the Social Security Corporation (SSC) Hazim Rahahleh to discuss the economic conditions of tourist hotels and the measures that can be taken to support the continuity of the hotel business.

“The meeting with the general director of the SSC was successful, we have made positive decisions in favour of hotels, mainly issuing a clearance for hotels for one month for the purpose of getting their license from the Ministry of Tourism without the condition of financial settlement but by installments,” Hindi noted.

There are exceptions and special facilities for hotels in Petra with regard to their installment dues, Hindi said, adding that joint-stock companies and companies with limited liability were exempted from the requirement of a sponsor.

“There will be no seizing of property or bank accounts for establishments that are in the process of initiating financial settlement,” he said.

Hindi added that they are working with the Ministry of Tourism and the Jordan Tourism Board to set a “new mechanism for international tourism”.