Jordan Soars to 9th Global Rank in Tourism Growth, UNWTO Confirms
Amman, Sep. 30 (Petra) – Jordan has leaped into the spotlight, securing the 9th position worldwide for the most remarkable surge in tourism receipts growth for the first seven months of 2023. The inbound visitor influx surged by an astonishing 23% when compared to the same period in 2019, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer unveiled the Middle East as the global leader in tourism receipts growth. This region, renowned for its exceptional tourist destinations, impressively surpassed pre-pandemic levels from 2019, recording a remarkable 20% increase.
In an official statement on Saturday, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities credited this remarkable achievement to the visionary directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II. The government’s focused attention on Jordan’s tourism sector, recognized as a “key” driver of economic growth, coupled with strategic measures to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, played a pivotal role.
The ministry outlined its strategy, aiming to not only rejuvenate the tourism sector but also enhance its contribution to the national economy. This entailed boosting inbound tourist numbers, increasing overall revenues, and generating more direct employment within the industry.
Among the notable measures, the government launched intensive foreign marketing campaigns and facilitated new flight routes through low-cost airlines. This collaborative effort between the government, private sector, and concerned authorities had a substantial impact on attracting large numbers of tourists to the Kingdom.
The ministry further reported an outstanding surge in visitor numbers, reaching unprecedented levels for the first eight months of 2023, totaling approximately 4,503,537 guests. This marked a remarkable increase of 41.9% compared to the same period in 2022.
Additionally, Jordan witnessed a surge of 38.5% in overnight tourists during the first eight months of 2023 compared to 2022, totaling 3,756,538 guests. Tourism income during this period amounted to JD3,651 billion, according to official statistics.
