Tourism sector operators in Jordan have confirmed a surge in hotel bookings and incoming tourism coinciding with the New Year holiday, signaling an improvement in tourism activity during this period.
اضافة اعلان
Mamdouh Al-Khasawneh, President of the Association of Travel and Tourism Agents, stated that New Year celebrations constitute an important tourism season, especially for visitors from Europe and the United States. He noted that inbound tourism bookings have increased by around 30% compared to the same period last year.
Al-Khasawneh added that tourists’ stays are now longer, with itineraries during this season averaging at least eight nights, positively impacting tourism revenues and stimulating the broader economy.
Data from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities indicate that the number of international visitors to Jordan rose by 14.6% during the first eleven months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, reaching 6.475 million visitors versus 5.647 million last year. Overnight stays also increased by 11%, totaling 5.36 million, compared to 4.826 million the previous year.
On the other hand, outbound tourism declined due to higher travel and accommodation costs and the absence of extended holidays that allow Jordanians to travel abroad. Turkey remains the top destination for Jordanians, followed by Egypt. The number of Jordanians traveling abroad for tourism fell by 2.5% over the first eleven months to 1.51 million, while expenditure on foreign tourism rose by 11.4% in November to $146.1 million and reached $1.887 billion over the first eleven months.
Jordan hosts approximately 868 travel offices across its governorates, employing over 4,700 staff.
Hussein Hilalat, a member of the Jordan Hotels Association, noted that the hotel sector is witnessing strong demand during the upcoming weekend, coinciding with New Year celebrations on Thursday. Bookings are coming from various international and Arab nationalities, as well as local tourists.
Hilalat added that tourism activity over the past two months shows clear signs of recovery, marking a new starting point for the sector. He highlighted the significant efforts by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to support the sector’s recovery through genuine public-private partnerships, regular meetings, and consultations to plan strategies and solutions.
Jordan has around 933 hotels of various classifications, employing more than 22,900 staff.
Tourism expert Dr. Nidal Mlo Al-Ain noted that New Year celebrations attract more foreign, Arab, and domestic tourists, boosting sector performance and increasing tourism revenue. Preliminary data from the Central Bank of Jordan show that tourism revenue rose by 7.0% in the first eleven months of 2025 to $7.16 billion, compared to a 3.1% decline in the same period the previous year, mainly due to a 14.7% increase in visitor numbers.
Dr. Mlo Al-Ain emphasized that the tourism sector is beginning to show recovery signs and expressed hope that it will fully regain its position in the coming year.
