Restaurant and café owners in Jordan are urging the government to lift the ban on shisha, the popular waterpipe smoking device, after a noticeable decline in demand, particularly in tourist restaurants. The call comes as Jordan’s tourism sector struggles, with figures showing a 4% drop in tourism revenue and a 7% fall in tourist numbers in 2024, largely due to regional conflicts in the Middle East.
Shisha was banned in public spaces a decade ago, but the enforcement of this ban became stricter during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Now, in the wake of weak demand, particularly from the tourism sector, restaurateurs are asking for a return to pre-pandemic conditions, including the permission to serve shisha in restaurants and cafés.
Tourism is a crucial part of Jordan’s economy, contributing 15-18% to the country’s GDP in recent years. The tourism sector, which includes attractions like Petra, has been significantly impacted by regional instability, particularly the recent conflict in Gaza. Restaurant managers, like Ahmed Al-Khalid, have expressed concern that the shisha ban has worsened the decline in the restaurant industry.
Jordan has about 1,270 restaurants classified as tourist establishments, employing more than 21,000 people. Isam Al-Jamal, a restaurateur in the capital Amman, echoed the call for the removal of the ban, stating that shisha is beloved by many customers in the dining scene.
In addition to reinstating shisha, restaurant owners are also calling on the government to reduce utility costs and fees to alleviate some of the financial pressures on the sector.
