To feel guilty about going on holiday to Jordan/Mount Sinai

[Twodogsonthecouch]

I’m due to fly to Jordan on 28th March for 8 days and then on to Mount Sinai and Dahab for 4 days. I’m really looking forward to seeing Petra, Wadi Rum the Dead Sea as well as climbing Mount Sinai and snorkelling in the Red Sea.
Obviously I will be following government advice on whether or not it is safe to go so that’s not really my question. It’s more that I feel funny about going on holiday to somewhere where it must be very emotive and scary for those living there. It feels somehow voyeuristic.
Is this just me being silly and overthinking it?

You're being daft. They'll be glad of your tourist cash!

Was in Jordan this time last year, fabulous place.
Insurance was valid as long as you were 3 miles from the border.
I probably wouldn't book if it was this year given the escalations.
If I was already booked and the tour was going ahead, I would assess nearer the time. When I was their tourism was 90% down. The good thing was Petra was very empty, an amazing experience walking through it, we did it in the day and by candle light.
Locals were lovely and welcomed visitors. If you go, you will be supporting them. I never felt unsafe.

Having been to an area which was perfectly safe when I went, but descended almost overnight (or so it felt) into civil war, and knowing the torture I put my family through when i was uncontactable for several weeks due to phone lines being damaged, if there is even the slightest chance of things going southwards, I wouldn't go. And I have travelled all over the world. Putting yourself in a potentially dangerous position is unfair on your family and puts extra strain on resources trying to evacuate people. Although for me the British embassy in the area I was were completely useless and of no help whatsoever, it was my mum who managed to secure me a place on one of the last commercial flights leaving that country, and a local ambulance driver who managed to sneak me to the airport under cover of darkness in the back of a blood soaked van, leaving most of my belongings behind. So don't rely on them to be any use in an emergency!

I honestly think people don’t give a huge amount of thought to the sensitivities of people who live in their holiday destination. Whether it be civil unrest, poverty, discrimination people chose a place they like the look of and don’t generally consider the locals. If they did some popular destinations would be much less popular.

Life goes on even in war zones.

During the blitz people still went dancing and went to the pub.

In western Ukraine people still go out to cafes and bars.

If the locals are going out why shouldn't you?

I don't think you're unreasonable to consider these things, but in a way it's a bit arbitrary. Whatever happens will happen whether you're in Jordan or in the UK, or at any point in between, so unless it's a choice between going and spending that time doing some sort of charity work for the people of Jordan, you may as well go (assuming, as you said, the FO says it's safe to do so).

Sadly not. Was updated today. All but essential travel to Jordan as a whole. The fcdo website states this..

"Latest update:
FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to Jordan. FCDO continues to advise against all travel to within 3km of the border with Syria."

Updated about 1 hour ago.

Just about to say the same. It has been updated today. The whole of Jordan is now essential travel only

I just want to note it was updated on the site after I pointed out the "parts" 🙈
It was green before.
Just so i don't look like illiterate bastard

The locals depend on tourism and would be happy to see you

Looks like my decision may be made for me. Thanks to everyone for your input 🙏

Unfortunately it is about all of Jordan now. Like you I was planning on going in April if Jordan was ‘FCO green’. Now it is amber so only essential travel.

If it goes green again in April we will probably still go.

It may still change. We went in October 24 between israel and iran shooting at each other over them and it was absolutely fine.
Admittedly that time, therest wasn't involved.
In that 3 week situation can change 3x.

But if you can cancel or postpone now without penalty, I would do it. May be that you wouldn't be able to do so later

She’s not said that at all. She said she has insurance but if she’s needs to cancel and her insurance won’t pay out then she’ll take the financial hit.
if you’re going to get all sneery with the OP at least get your facts right!

I so want to go and see Petra. I would hate to change my plans.

Why feel guilty? Those people will need your tourism cash more than anything. I regret not going earlier, I've been a fool seeing the Palestinian genocide whilst knowing there was a strong eventuality that the bombardment would grow to encompass the other countries in the region.

I doubt I shall get there now

Presuming that it's safe to go as per FO advice and common sense, the countries which are being attacked by Iran will be happy for foreign tourism income.

For anyone planning after this. Jerash is also interesting and not far off Ajloun castle worth a visit. There is a reseve with small centre with handmade stuff and the soap and biscuits are AM azing (ajloun zip line is best to find iton google) . Jewelry as well.
Essentially soooo many interesting places from north to south.
Jordan museum is really good too. Really interactive, fun for all ages

Same. What are you doing about your hotels etc?

I’ll hold on for a few weeks and see what pans out. Most of our accommodation is Bedouin guesthouses so not expensive. Haven’t actually booked wadi rum yet

I'm meant to be going at the end of the month. Had the advice not changed, I would have gone.

Hoping to simply move the trip.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18FDGU5hHE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I've booked Wadi Rum too. I won't bother trying to contact anyone this week or maybe even next week as they'll have their hands full but will see what happens before I cancel.

I think travel insurance is void in a war situation ?

Personally I would feel terribly guilty about going. Not because I don't think it's important to support the local businesses, but because I'm well aware that I'd be another problem for them if something else happened. I was born in Israel but haven't been back in years now as I do not want to be someone's responsibility to solve. I don't know how it all works, I don't speak the language, I don't know how to act or what to do in a bunker and I don't have any way to help anyone if something terrible happens. I'm a liability to them. And then I become another problem to someone else if they need to get me out. So I think it is terribly irresponsible to add to their plate and if your actual goal is to support them financially, there are many other ways to do so.

(And agree it wasn't the point, but you almost certainly would void your travel insurance. As per all the people who were massively out of pocket during covid (including me), most insurers - particularly the year long sort - have a lot of clauses around terrorism and war and global pandemics.)

Having recently visited my son in Jordan and speaking to him on the phone just yesterday the Jordanians are carrying on as normal atm. Think it would be fine to still visit from a moral point of view if you feel it safe to do so. We went in October 2025 and Jordanians were very happy to see tourists and our driver actually spoke about how the lack of tourists had made it so much harder on the economy so they are very welcoming, and such a friendly nation. But my husband who was due to fly out on Monday 9th March has just made decision to cancel on safety grounds and becuase evening flights are not being allowed to fly atm so not sure he would have made it there anyway. Still not sure if we made right decision on that one but only time will tell. Sadly insurance saying wont get any money back if we cancel as 'natural disaster' not covered? Flights, I think can pick a different date, but no refund. Depends how happy you feel with the 'risk' at the time but morally I don't see a problem as you will be supporting the economy.