Local tourism sector faces 7% decline in international visitors by October 2024

Tourism in Jordan has continued to experience a decline, with international visitor numbers dropping by 7 percent by the end of October compared to the same period last year.

The total number of visitors reached 5.2 million, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by the sector, which are largely attributed to the prolonged regional tensions stemming from the Israeli Occupation's aggression on Gaza and Lebanon.

The government has acknowledged the downturn and is working on a recovery plan to revive the tourism sector, which has seen substantial declines in certain categories of visitors. Data indicates that overnight visitors, who make up the majority of tourists, numbered 4.4 million by the end of October, a 5 percent drop from the previous year. Similarly, one-day visitors fell by 17 percent, totaling 752,000.

The monthly trends highlight a sharp decline in visitor numbers between February and May, followed by a gradual uptick starting in June, with October seeing 418,000 visitors. July saw the highest influx of tourists, surpassing 563,000, likely due to visits from expatriates returning to Jordan.

While international tourism has suffered a noticeable drop, there was a 6 percent increase in visitors from Arab countries and a 5.7 percent rise in visits from Jordanian expatriates. However, the tourism sector has expressed concern over including expatriates in official tourism statistics, as many do not utilize traditional tourism facilities for overnight stays.

The method of entry for visitors also showed a clear preference for land routes, with the majority entering through various border crossings, notably the Omari crossing. Meanwhile, 1.9 million visitors arrived by air, with Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) handling the bulk of this traffic. Aqaba port also registered a notable number of arrivals, though air and sea arrivals combined still accounted for a smaller share of total tourism.