Tourism experts express optimism for increase in number of tourists in 2023

AMMAN — Experts have expressed their enthusiasm for the "significant" increase in foreign tourists visiting Jordan, emphasising the vital role of the tourism sector in bolstering the Jordanian economy.

The number of foreign visitors to Jordan in 2023 surged by 44 per cent compared with the previous year, according to data released this week by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. 

Economist Awni Daoud told The Jordan Times on Thursday, that the tourism sector is a fundamental pillar of the Jordanian economy, contributing to about 14.6 per cent of the economic growth in recent years, adding that “these are encouraging indicators for tourism in Jordan”.

Daoud also noted that the rise in the number of foreign tourists underscores Jordan’s status as a safe country, adding that "despite its proximity to troubled areas, Jordan maintains stability and offers all the elements necessary for successful tourism. These factors have been confirmed by studies and have encouraged foreign tourists to visit Jordan over the past year".

The data also showed that the number of foreign visitors (excluding Arabs and residents) reached 1.7 million in 2023, up from 1.184 million the previous year, marking an increase of 515,000 visitors. Foreign visitors accounted for 27 per cent of the total visitors to Jordan last year.

In terms of geographical distribution, about one million visitors came from Europe last year, marking a 42 per cent increase from the 704.1 thousand visitors the previous year. The kingdom also welcomed approximately 314.2 thousand visitors from various American countries last year, up 31.8 per cent from the 238.3 thousand visitors in the previous year.

The data also showed that the number of visitors from Asian countries saw a significant increase of more than 337.6 per cent, with an additional 124 thousand visitors compared with 2022, bringing the total number of visitors from Asia to about 213 thousand.

The number of visitors from African countries also saw a substantial increase last year, reaching about 48.6 thousand visitors, up 68.1 per cent from the 28.9 thousand visitors the previous year, the ministry said. 

Ahmad Hasouneh, a ticket salesperson at a travel agency in Amman, told The Jordan Times that there was a significant increase in bookings to Jordan and various tourist sites in the early months of 2023. He also noted a decline when the Gaza war started but emphasised that the rise in the early months was substantial.