Tourism Licensing Reform

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Licensing is a commonly used type of regulation, by which governments regulate businesses’ entry into markets and operation within markets. This can involve the use of permits, certification, and other forms of authorizations and notifications. To obtain the required licenses, businesses typically have to comply with a series of legal requirements, which can impose substantial administrative and financial burdens on their activities. In Jordan’s tourism sector, the business licensing system is characterized by lack of transparency, predictability, and clarity of procedures, requirements, documents, and fees to formalize a business as well as by multiple institutions involved in the licensing process. This creates a burden for MSMEs and investors.

The tourism licensing intervention by the GIZ Employment-Oriented MSME Promotion Project aims to streamline licensing procedures, improve coordination among involved entities, and enhance transparency, predictability, and clarity of procedures, requirements, documents, and fees. The main activities include the development of the legislative and institutional framework accompanied by capacity building and awareness raising measures for reform partners and the private sector. Information manuals for the private sector will serve as a complete step-by-step guide to registering and licensing a tourism business in Jordan. An M&E guideline will help public stakeholders measure the impact of future business environment reform initiatives.

Ultimately, the reform will facilitate market entrance and contribute to a more conducive business and investment climate in Jordan’s tourism sector.

(4410375)