Some 60 travel agencies shut down permanently due to virus crisis — representative

AMMAN — Some 60 travel agencies have permanently shut down after being affected by the disruptions triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a sector representative.

“The tourism industry is one of the hardest hit sectors in Jordan and across the world, but yet nothing has changed and more and more unfortunate announcements will pop up regarding the closure of other travel agencies,” Kamal Abu Diab, secretary of the Jordan Society of Tourism and Travel Agents (JSTA), told The Jordan Times on Monday.

Many travel agencies plan to close and lay off their employees in response to the deterioration in earnings, Abu Diab said, adding that the whole industry has been put on standstill since the onset of the crisis and until now the government has provided “no support to the sector to stay afloat”.

Abu Diab stated that the JSTA had addressed the government several times and apprised them of the “chaotic situation” of the Kingdom’s travel agencies, in addition to offering solutions and recommendations by sector specialists and representatives. 

“But in the end, it all turned out to be unfulfilled promises and a bunch of joint gatherings and meetings,” the stakeholder noted.

Diab also said the JSTA estimated initially that the sector would return to the pre-COVID-19 levels during the first quarter of next year, but “it is now clear that nothing will be back to normal before the end of 2021”.

“For many, the price of shutting down forever is considerably cheaper and less stressful, because they gave up hope due to the absence of true solutions,” he added.

“The travel companies and agencies have certainly their ups and downs. Many challenges and changes were experienced throughout previous years”, Abu Diab said, noting, however, that the ongoing pandemic delivered “the final blow”.