Amman: The Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan, has given the green light to the 2025 Regulations on Hotel and Tourism Establishments and Tourist Restaurants, aligning them with recent amendments to last year's Tourism Law.
According to Jordan News Agency, these new regulations aim to enhance the business environment, stimulate investment in tourism, and simplify regulatory procedures. The move eliminates licensing requirements in favor of a classification-based system, modernizing the classification and registration of tourism-related professions and establishments.
The hotel and tourism establishments regulation removes the necessity for formal licenses, replacing it with a classification approval from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. It also abolishes licensing fees, thereby reducing operational costs for establishment owners. New categories such as high-quality boutique hotels and tourist villages have been introduced, with set criteria to elevate service levels for tourists. The regulation further mandates inclusive standards, ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, the elderly, and children, while also adhering to environmental requirements.
Similarly, the new tourist restaurant regulation replaces prior licensing with classification or registration approval, eliminating associated fees. This streamlines processes, reclassifies restaurant categories in line with global best practices, and encourages the promotion of traditional Jordanian cuisine. Tourist restaurants must meet inclusive tourism and public health standards, particularly regarding smoking and waterpipes.
These regulatory adjustments are part of the broader Economic Modernization Vision, supporting growth in key economic sectors and enhancing tourism service quality in the Kingdom.
In a move to bolster the agricultural sector, the Cabinet has also approved purchasing locally produced wheat and barley from the 2024/2025 season. Prices have been set at JD500 per ton for seed wheat and JD420 for seed barley, with food-grade prices at JD420 and JD370 per ton, respectively. An allocated budget of JD19 million will purchase approximately 40,000 tonnes of grain. Additionally, for the 2025/2026 season, the Cabinet plans to reduce the selling price of seed grain for farmers by JOD 50 per ton, with the government covering the cost of screening and sterilization.
In Amman, the Cabinet endorsed amendments to the 2025 Building and Zoning Regulations, offering fee discounts for buildings constructed in 2025 and better regulating private and home-based nurseries. This aims to reduce financial burdens, cap fines, and encourage job creation. The Cabinet also approved the 2025 Regulation on Greater Amman Municipality Employees, aligning with existing laws to organize employment, enhance human capital, and create a competitive workplace culture.
Finally, the Cabinet authorized infrastructure development for a new public hospital in Madaba, with construction set to begin this year. Rana Mohammad Khaled Obaidat has been appointed as Director-General of the Jordan Food and Drug Administration, succeeding Nizar Mhaidat.