Amman: Tourism played a significant role in Jordan’s economic landscape in 2023, contributing 14.6 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) and impacting sectors such as services, transportation, and trade.
The tourism income, reflecting expenditures by visitors to Jordan, reached a historic high of $7.4 billion in 2023, marking a notable increase from the $5.8 billion recorded in the base year of 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the foreign reserve reached $18.4 billion.
Recent data from the Central Bank of Jordan revealed a 27.7 percent growth in tourism income in 2023 compared to 2022, driven by a surge in tourist numbers, which reached 6.353 million. However, December 2023 saw a 3.4 percent decline in tourism sector revenues, attributed to an 8 percent reduction in the number of tourists to 416,600 compared to December 2022.
From January to October 2023, overnight tourists numbered around 4.7 million, reflecting a growth rate of 31.8 percent. Additionally, one-day visitors reac
hed approximately 930,000 tourists, experiencing a growth rate of 47.4 percent. Tourists from Arab countries dominated both categories, according to the Tourism Ministry’s figures.
Despite challenges, including the impact of the Gaza war on tourist groups, particularly from Europe, Jordan’s tourism sector showcased resilience. The positive influence of the World Tourism Organization’s decisions, designating Jordan as a center for treatment and hospitalization, and recognizing Umm Qais as an international tourist village, contributed to the sector’s success. Furthermore, Jordan’s ability to penetrate non-traditional European markets, facilitated by low-cost aviation, played a pivotal role.
The war on Gaza, beginning in October 2023, adversely affected the tourism sector, leading to a 50 percent decline in hotel reservations and a significant drop in demand for tourist sites and restaurants, according to Tourism Minister Makram Qaisi.
In statements in mid-November, he reported a decline of 40 percent in tour
ist site visits and a 60-70 percent reduction in restaurant reservations since the start of the war, based on data from popular sites like Petra and tourism associations.
Qaisi also noted the cancellation of 23 charter flights and 26 ship flights to Aqaba from the start of the war until the end of 2023.
Source: Jordan News Agency
