He stressed the necessity of tightening oversight on the tourism sector, holding violators accountable, and referring them to the judiciary, calling for a review of the legislation regulating the sector and the establishment of clear controls for all those working in it, pointing out that tourism contributes about 16% of the total national income, according to his estimate, and constitutes a source of income for the treasury, citizens, and those working in the sector.
In a related context, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities called on Wednesday for the necessity of verifying the licensing and classification of tourism and travel offices before booking or purchasing tourism programs and trips, in order to preserve the rights of beneficiaries and avoid fraud or falling victim to fake offers.
The ministry emphasized the importance of dealing with duly licensed offices and adhering to the legislation regulating tourism professions and activities, noting that practicing these professions and activities and providing them through websites, programs, and digital platforms requires obtaining the necessary approvals, in accordance with the Tourism Law and the regulations and instructions issued pursuant thereto.
The Tourism Law, in Article (9), stipulates that tourism professions and activities specified therein may be practiced after obtaining the prescribed approval, while Article (21) defines the penalties for violating its provisions, which may reach imprisonment for a period of no less than six months and no more than one year, or a fine of no less than 3,000 dinars and no more than 10,000 dinars, or both penalties, according to the cases stipulated in the article.
Regarding unlicensed offices, Al-Rawadiyah said that the problem consists of individuals who undertake the promotion of tourist trips and programs under the umbrella of licensed offices, explaining that he does not expect individuals to explicitly announce that they own unlicensed tourism offices.
In this context, he recalled the promotion of the "Our Jordan is a Paradise" (Urdun Jannah) program through accounts and names circulating on social media platforms and the "WhatsApp" application, indicating that he had discussed these practices with the former Minister of Tourism and stressed the need to regulate them, noting that the program had achieved good figures.
The ministry called on citizens to verify the licensing and classification of offices before completing bookings or transferring any financial amounts, by contacting it at the number (06) 460 3360, emphasizing the importance of prior verification to protect the rights of beneficiaries and ensure a safe tourism experience.
