The decline in the number of Jordanians traveling abroad for tourism during the first eight months of this year is attributed to geopolitical tensions in the region and uncertainty surrounding air travel, according to Mahmoud Al-Khasawneh, president of the Jordan Society of Travel and Tourism Agents.
اضافة اعلان
Al-Khasawneh said Monday that travelers are concerned their trips could be canceled or their return flights delayed.
He also noted that the figures show Jordanians increasingly turning to domestic tourism through the “Our Jordan Is Paradise” program or by making direct bookings themselves.
Jordan offers a wide range of tourism options, he said, including historical sites, nature destinations and adventure activities.
Regarding Jordanians’ preferred tourism destinations, Al-Khasawneh said geopolitical tensions have changed traditional travel patterns. Syria has become the top destination because it does not require air travel, followed by Turkey and Egypt.
According to preliminary figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, based on data from the Central Bank of Jordan , the number of Jordanians traveling abroad for tourism fell by 8.7% during the first eight months of 2026 to approximately 1.066 million, compared with around 1.167 million during the same period in 2025.
The decline amounted to approximately 101,100 travelers between January and the end of August 2026.
The data showed that the number of travelers increased in three months compared with the same period last year. It rose by 1.6% in January, 7.5% in May and 3% in August, while the remaining months recorded declines.
April recorded the largest monthly decline, at 38.2%, followed by March at 21.3%, February at 19.8%, June at 10.3% and July at 2.4%.
A public opinion survey conducted by the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan found that 73.3% of respondents were aware of domestic tourism programs such as “Our Jordan Is Paradise,” while 83% of the national sample said these programs had encouraged citizens to travel within Jordan.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities previously told Al-Mamlaka that around 211,000 people had participated in the “Our Jordan Is Paradise” program from the beginning of the year until early October.
Source: Al-Mamlaka
