The tourism sector in Jordan has seen a healthy growth during January 2018, a 9.9% growth, to be exact, in comparison with the same period of last year, according to figures released by the Minister of Antiquities, Lina Annab.

While the number of day-trippers increased by 19%, it is no surprise that the number of overnight tourists rose by 8.5% in January, considering the large number of historic sites available to them in the ancient Kingdom.

A hot air balloon about to rise above Wadi Rum. (Via The Holiday Place)

There has been a 22.4% hike in the number of overnight tourists visiting from Europe, which translates into 36,829 visitors.

Meanwhile, the percentage of those jetting in to Jordan from the US increased by 14.4% (13,799 overnight visitors), and the number of overnight travellers visiting from Africa rose by 20.1% (1,667).

Holidaymakers from neighbouring countries were also interested in exploring Jordan.

The number of overnight travellers coming in from the Gulf increased by 35.1% (73,939). As for the rest of the Arab world, the number of people interested in visiting Jordan, and staying overnight, rose by 12.3% (95,416).

The famous natural Ma'in Hot Springs. (File photo)

Unfortunately, many Jordanians residing abroad were not too keen on coming back for a visit.

Last year in January, 145,741 Jordanians visited their homeland and stayed overnight, while only 135,804 Jordanians came back home for a visit in January 2018.

The figures tweeted by the minister below show in more detail which historic sites were of most interest to tourists last month.

9.9%
increase in visitors in January 2018 compared with 2017

9.9% نسبة ارتفاع زوار المملكة في الشهر الأول من 2018 مقارنة مع 2017

ارتفاع عدد:
زوار البترا 32%
زوار وادي رم 31%
زوار مادبا 30%
زوار جبل نيبو 151%
زوار المغطس 64%
زوار عجلون 2.7%
زوار الكرك 67%#حب_الأردن#LoveJo pic.twitter.com/jBNNSjGImL

— Lina Annab (@LinaAnnab) February 15, 2018

For more information on what to do, visit and see in Jordan, check out the official VisitJordan website.