São Paulo – Tourism revenue in Jordan grew 88.4% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching USD 1.671 billion due to a notable increase in the flow of visitors.
The Arab country recorded unparalleled growth in the number of tourists visiting the country. Over 1.47 million people visited Jordan in the first quarter of 2023.
The number represents a 90.7% increase compared to the 774,111 tourists who visited the country during the same period last year, according to the Jordan News Agency (Petra).
The record surpasses visits from the first quarter of 2019, considered a “golden year” for tourism in Jordan, when it received 1.146 million tourists, accounting for 966,483 overnight stays.
According to data, tourism receipts grew 49% compared to March 2022, totaling USD 614.7 million.
In addition, the latest monthly report from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities revealed an 80.9% increase in overnight tourists to 1.204 million in the quarter, compared to 665,779 a year earlier.
Jordan has a large number of renowned landmarks and other attractions, including the “Golden Triangle” encompassing Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, and the Dead Sea, the Roman Theater in Amman, and Mount Nebo, Ajloun Castle, Jerash, the baptism site of Jesus Christ, and the Karak Castle.
Last month, the northern town of Umm Qais was honored at the UN World Tourism Organization’s Best Tourist Villages Awards in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia.
The secretary-general of Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Imad Hijazin, said at the event that joining the UN list will bolster the kingdom’s status on the global tourism map.
The achievement is within the ministry’s vision and aligned with the tourism development plan through Jordan’s National Tourism Strategy for 2021-2025.
Hijazin noted local recognition would contribute to empowering local communities and increase employment opportunities.
*With information from Arab News.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
