Jordan sees 2010 tourism surge 32%

Jordan's tourism sector plays a key role in the country's economy, with its relative contribution to the national GDP reaching 18.3% in 2009, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Last year, the country's tourism industry showed resilience in the midst of the economic downturn, as revenue per available room (revPAR) fell by just 5.7% - far lower than many other countries in the region - to $82.11, according to STR Global.

The country's tourism sector has performed even better in 2010, with tourist arrivals in the first five months of the year rising 32% to 1.66 million against 1.257 million in the same period last year, according to official data. Jordan's receipts from tourism also rose sharply, gaining 30% to 887 million dinars ($1.25bn) until May compared with the same period a year earlier.

Spending by Gulf Arab tourists accounted for the highest portion (38%) of the kingdom's tourism revenues, the data showed, with Jordan seeing a17% rise until May in Arab tourists from the Gulf as the financial crisis has encouraged travel within the region.

The number of visitors to Petra, one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world, rose 39.7% to 444,700 in the first five months of the year compared to the same period in 2009. However, hotels in Amman, Jordan's capital, reported the largest occupancy increase in the Middle East in May, rising 13.9% to 71.1%, compared to the same month last year, according to STR Global. Meanwhile, revPAR in Amman climbed 17.8% to $114.44.

Tourism projects target visitor increase

Developers are keen to tap into the growing tourism market in Jordan, as evidenced by several recent projects that were launched earlier this year in the kingdom. The three-phase Marsa Zayed project in the Red Sea port of Aqaba being carried out by UAE real estate firm Al-Maabar is the country's largest ever property and tourism venture, according to the official Petra news agency.

The $10bn development, which was launched in May, will transform Aqaba into a major yachting and cruise ship destination. The mixed-use project includes high-rise residential towers, retail, recreational, entertainment, business and financial facilities along with several branded hotels.

More recently, local investors launched a $100m tourism project in the Dead Sea that will be based on Islamic architecture and social values. The Al Buhayra project will feature a 1,000 suite resort surrounded by a 40,000 square metre lagoon, the largest in the region, according to developers.

The resort, which is being developed by Sama Jordan for Investment, Real Estate and Tourism Development and Jordan Agriculture Engineers Association, will include 16,000 square metre swimming pools, and areas designated exclusively for women and children. Construction of the first phase of the project, which will include 200 suites, will start in July.

Royal Jordanian boosts frequencies

After a strong first half, travel to Jordan is expected to rise even more this summer, according to the country's national carrier, Royal Jordanian. The airline's president and CEO Hussein Dabbas has said that seat bookings for July and August are the highest ever for the airline, with booking figures for July exceeding 320,000 and counting.

To meet the rising demand, the carrier has boosted flight frequencies operated to and from Amman to more than 110 daily. The carrier now operates four daily flights to Beirut, three daily flights to Dubai, Cairo and Jeddah, two daily flights to Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Damascus, Aqaba, Kuwait and Aleppo, and one daily flight to Chicago, Bahrain and Doha. In addition, RJ has regular daily flights to Baghdad, Bangkok, Colombo, Riyadh, Sharm El-Sheikh, Frankfurt and London.