The latest official figures released by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT)Ministry of Tourism (MoT) this week revealed a 6 per cent growth in the country's inbound tourism market during the first 10 months of this year. Overall arrivals reached 6.015 million visitors compared to 5.667 million in the same period last year. Just over half, or 53 per cent, were overnight tourists while the remaining were day visitors.

The figures showed healthy growth in tourist traffic from all regions, especially Arab and Gulf visitors whose numbers have improved from last year.

According to the preliminary figures, the number of Arab visitors rose 4.1 per cent during the first 10 months of this year, standing at 4.12 million tourists compared to 3.959 million in the same period of last year. The majority - 2.549 million - however, were day visitors, while 1.571 were overnight tourists.

The Kingdom also attracted 13 per cent more tourists from European countries, with 777,591 visiting the country between January and October compared to 686,039 in the first 10 months of last year, with overnight visitors (532,280) surpassing those on day visits (245,312).

Jordan also witnessed a 13 per cent increase in American tourists with around 199,075 visitors during the first 10 months of this year, compared to 176,612 in the same period of 2007. Visitors from Asia and the Pacific region went up 15 per cent, with a total of 193,987 compared to 168, 578 in the comparative period.

The number of visitors on package tours also rose substantially between January and October, with 344,571 visiting the Kingdom in tour groups, compared to 237,537 last year. These tourists spent 1.495 million nights here, a 47 per cent increase from last year, with an average of 4.5 nights per person.

The growth in tourist traffic between January and October brought revenue up by 25 per cent to JD1.768 billion from JD1.412 billion in the same period of last year.

MoTMoT Secretary General Farouq Hadidi said the tourism industry appears to have steadied itself under the current economic situation, with expectations better than forecasted.

"The figures are positive across the board and exceed our, and even the global industry's expectations, which noted a slowdown in tourist travel in the second half of 2008," said Hadidi.

"The increase in tourists on package tours is especially positive and what is more reassuring, if not encouraging, is that these numbers are going to be stable over the next five months," he added.

In its latest World Tourism Barometer earlier this month, the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) noted the global impact of rising oil prices on industries including tourism, pointing out that international tourism growth had slowed rapidly since mid-2008 as the economic situation weakened consumer confidence.

WTO officials reported that international tourist arrivals worldwide, which averaged 5.7 per cent between January and April, fell below 2 per cent in June, July and August as the high price of oil and rising inflation took their toll and, together with recession fears, squeezed travel budgets.

"For the first eight months of 2008, growth averaged 3.7 per cent compared with the same period in 2007, while for the year as a whole it is now projected to be around 2 per cent globally," the barometer noted.

WTO officials said current economic conditions had forced many vacationers to reassess their approach to travel, for example, choosing destinations closer to home.

Destinations offering value for money and with favourable exchange rates have an advantage as price becomes a key issue, they said, adding that vacationers are expected to spend less time and money at their holiday destination.

Noting the toll of the economic crisis on tourism, Hadidi said the country's marketing campaigns in the US and Europe have focused on promoting Jordan as a favourable and affordable vacation destination.

He said Europeans make it a point to take vacations and the only difference now is that they modify their plans.

"For example, those who are used to spending 50,000 euros on two vacations a year may want one vacation for 10,000 euros," said Hadidi.

"Both the government and the private sector will be focusing on benefiting from this segment by providing attractive packages at minimum cost," he added.

The Kingdom's tourist sites also witnessed increased visitor activity between January and October, generating a total of JD15.509 million in tourism receipts, compared to JD8.661 million last year, according to figures released by the Central Bank of Jordan.

The tourist city of Petra had generated the greatest percentage (82 per cent or JD12.643 million) of overall revenue from tourist sites.

By Dalya Dajani

© Jordan Times 2008

 

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