Arab nationals are following through with their travel plants to Jordan despite the conflict nearby.
The Kingdom welcomed 2.25 million Middle Eastern passport holders during the first eight months of 2024, a 5.7% increase on the same period last year, The Jordan Times reported.
Arab visitors made up 53.5% of Jordan’s 4.7 million total visitors during the period, while expatriates accounted for 28.9% of visitors, followed by Europeans at 10.9%.
Despite the increase in Middle Eastern visitors, arrivals to the Kingdom were down by 7% compared to the first eight months of 2023. The largest decline in visitors came from American passport holders which fell 59.8% year-on-year.
The decline in arrivals to Jordan can likely be attributed to neighbouring conflict and unfortunately bucks the trend amongst other Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, which have experienced record visitor numbers this year.
Jordan’s overall tourism revenue reached $4.95 billion coming from 4.021 million overnight tourists and 680,723 one-day visitors.
Hoping to revive visitor numbers through the rest of 2024, the Kingdom is highlighting its Jordan Pass that includes access to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Petra, Wadi Rum and Umm ar-Rasas. The pass also covers entry for 40 other attractions such as Aqaba Museum, Church of Apostles and the Roman Theatre Amman, and it waives the cost of a tourist visa.
