No more visa fees: Israeli tourists can now enter Jordan for free

Jordan on Sunday waived visa fees for Israeli tourists arriving in the kingdom via the Yitzhak Rabin Terminal near Aqaba, according to Israeli press reports.

The decision applies to Israeli tourists who spend less than two nights in Jordan, according to a report published Israel's Ynet news outlet.

Jordan alongside Egypt is the only other Arab country that has a peace treaty and significant economic ties  with Israel. 

The move is reportedly meant to encourage more Israelis to visit the kingdom, whose tourism sector has struggled due to conflict and unrest in neighbouring countries.

Previously, Israeli tourists wishing to spend a few hours in Jordan had to pay around 60 Jordanian dinars (˜$85) to enter the country, and 40 dinars (˜$56) for up to two nights.

At the same time, entrance fees to Petra, a very popular among Israeli tourists visiting Jordan, have been reduced from 90 dinars per person to 50 dinars, said Ynet.

No official confirmation of the report has been issued by Jordan but such a move would likely cause concern among activists opposed to 'normalisation' with Israel.

Despite the peace treaty signed in 1994, normalisation of ties with Israel remains deeply unpopular among Jordanians, a large segment of whom are Palestinian refugees.

Movements in Jordan calling for the boycott of Israel have enjoyed growing popularity in recent years.