In a region frequently besieged by geopolitical volatility, Jordan’s tourism revenue jumped 7% year on year over the first 11 months of 2025, reaching the USD 7.2 billion mark, according to preliminary data from the Central Bank of Jordan.
The Middle Eastern country’s tourism revenue rose by 12.6% year-on-year in November, reaching the USD 606.6 million mark. Most importantly, Jordan’s tourism sector has exceeded its 2024 targets for visitor numbers and revenue under the country’s “Economic Modernisation Vision.”
The development also reflects the sector’s long-term strategy, which prioritises steady expansion, with EMV targets calling for annual growth of around 10% in tourism receipts alongside sustained increases in visitor numbers.
As per the Jordan News Agency (Petra), “The Central Bank attributed the growth to a 14.7% rise in tourist arrivals. Revenue gains were led by visitors from Europe (36.1%), Asia (34.3%), the Americas (18.4%), Arab countries (3.6%), and other nationalities (33.4%). Conversely, tourism revenue from Jordanian expatriates recorded a slight decrease of 0.8%.”
The statement showed that, over the first 11 months of the year, expenditures on travel abroad increased by 5.5%, totalling USD 1.887 billion. Spending on outbound tourism, on the other hand, rose by 11.4% in November, reaching USD 146.1 million. Tourism activities across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) contributed USD 247.1 billion to the region’s economy in 2024, marking a nearly 32% increase compared with 2019.
According to preliminary data released from the GCC Statistical Centre in September, intra-GCC travel witnessed a sharp rebound, as it rose 52% over the same period, with 19.3 million visitors travelling between member states. Intra-regional tourism accounted for 26.7% of total GCC tourism, highlighting growing cultural integration and regional mobility.
Saudi Arabia continued to set the pace for regional tourism expansion. In 2024, the country welcomed a record 30 million international visitors, up 8% from 2023, generating SR284 billion (USD 75.7 billion) in tourism spending, an 11% increase year on year. Total tourists’ inflow reached approximately 116 million, rising 6% over the previous year.