Cancellation of Visa Fees for Israeli Tourists via Wadi Araba Crossing…Correct Story

Reducing Entry Fees to Petra for Israeli Tourists…Incorrect Story

AKEED, Osama Rawajfeh

The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) has confirmed the decision reported by Israeli media outlets on the cancellation of visa fees for Israeli tourists entering the Kingdom via the Wadi Araba Crossing, which total JD60. Thus, it has done away with its previous stipulation that Israeli tourists have to spend two nights in the country to have their visa fees cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Petra Region Authority denied what these websites said in the same story to the effect that a Jordanian decision was made to reduce entry fees to the historical city of Petra from JD90 to JD50. This amount is paid by Israeli tourists arriving via the Wadi Araba Crossing if they do not wish to stay overnight.

AKEED obtained a copy of a circular sent by Nasser Shraideh, chief commissioner of ASEZA, to relevant agencies, in which he refers to "the decision of the Board of Commissioners No. 938 dated 10 July 2018, which states that bearers of Israeli nationality are not included in the arrangements and procedures adopted at the Wadi Araba Crossing based on the previous decisions of the board. The bearers of this nationality shall only be exempt from the condition of sleeping for two nights or paying (visa) fees."

The story published in Israeli media said that "Jordanian authorities decided to cancel the visa fees for Israeli tourists who travel to the Kingdom of Jordan for tourism. According to the current practice, an Israeli tourist who wants to enter Jordan for several hours has to pay JD60 as an entry fee, while those who wish to spend more than two nights in Jordan pay JD40."

The story added that "Jordanian authorities decided to reduce entry fees to Petra, which is most popular among Israeli tourists arriving in Jordan, from JD90 per person to JD50."

Abdul Mahdi Qatamin, official press spokesman of ASEZA, told AKEED that "two years ago, Israeli tourists and Arabs bearing Israeli citizenship (Arabs of 1948) used to enter via the Wadi Araba Crossing to the city of Aqaba for tourism for one day. Some of them visited the city of Petra before leaving on the same day. Therefore, tourists did not have an economic impact during the visit."

He added: "A decision was made then to collect visa fees in the amount of JD60 from Israeli tourists entering the Kingdom via the Wadi Araba Crossing. However, any tourist who stays for two nights would be exempted. The aim was to stimulate business at hotels." He noted that "the decision led to a decline in the number of Israeli tourists, but it had good economic benefits."

On the new situation, Qatamin says that "tour operators and travel agents of the (Arabs of 1948) expressed their wish to promote tourism to Jordan. They said that reconsidering visa fees and the condition of overnight stay would help in reactivating tourism on their side. Thus, a decision was made by the Board of Commissioners to cancel the visa fees, which total JD60, and the stipulation of staying for two nights as a condition for exemption from this amount."

The ASEZA spokesman expected "the number of visitors via the Wadi Araba Crossing to double and business in Aqaba to thrive due to this decision because visitors like to frequent its markets."

In a statement to AKEED, Dr. Suleiman Farjat, commissioner of the Petra Region Authority, denied "the Israeli story about reducing the fees of visiting Petra for Israeli tourists entering via the Wadi Araba Crossing from JD90 to JD50. Israeli visitors to Petra currently pay JD90 unless they fulfill the condition of overnight stay."

He said that "people from any nationality, including Israeli, entering via the Wadi Araba Crossing pay the same entry fee to Petra, which is JD90. The aim is not to collect money per se. The evidence is that they are exempt of JD40 in fees if they stay over and contribute to the economic returns of tourism." He added: "We have an office at the crossing that oversees the implementation of these decisions. It is still enforcing the current procedures, which have not changed. Thus, an Israeli tourist would have to pay JD90 for visiting Petra and JD50 if he fulfills the condition of staying over."

In a brief statement to AKEED, Mohammad Samih, president of the Jordan Society of Tourism and Travel Agents, expected "the decision to cancel the visa fees to contribute to stimulating business in Aqaba, but this will not reflect on tourist activity in general, such as hotels and others."

Local and Arab media carried the Israeli story without verifying the information in it and without including the replies of the Jordanian side concerning what was raised. This practice ignores balance and accuracy in media content.

AKEED had tackled issues reported in the Israeli media and carried by local, Arab, and international websites, the last being a report under the headline "Websites Ignore Jordanian Denial Over Merkava, Satisifed With Israeli Story."