Amman – The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has outlined 12 key priorities for the sector in its annual tourism report, which will be implemented this year.
اضافة اعلان
The ministry emphasized in its report, published on its official website, that the first priority is to fulfill the requirements of the Economic Modernization Vision.
The ministry will monitor the progress of the modernization vision's activities monthly and submit reports to the Government Performance and Achievement Monitoring Unit at the Prime Ministry. Efforts will focus on ensuring that the specified performance indicators are met.
The second priority is to update the National Tourism Strategy (2025-2028) in alignment with the Economic Modernization Vision.
The third priority is air connectivity, following a reduction in airline operations between Jordan and key tourism markets due to the cancellation and reduction of low-cost carrier routes in the past year.
Low-cost airlines operated 2,925 flights to Jordan in 2023, carrying 445,800 visitors. However, in the past year, the number dropped to 1,308 flights, bringing only 182,200 visitors. The ministry aims to compensate for these losses by offering financial incentives to low-cost airlines, charter flights, and regular carriers, including Royal Jordanian, to expand routes to both existing and new tourism markets.
The fourth priority is to target new tourism markets by attracting visitors from China, Russia, Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, and Arab markets, including expatriates living in GCC countries.
The ministry's marketing strategies will promote diverse tourism experiences, including:
Medical and wellness tourism
Religious tourism (Christian and Islamic)
Adventure tourism
Conferences and exhibitions
To boost conference tourism, the ministry will offer incentives to attract international events to Jordan.
The fifth priority is tourism investments, which are a key driver of tourism growth in Jordan. In collaboration with UN Tourism, the ministry published the "UN Tourism Investment Guide for Jordan" and conducted a survey of potential tourism investment opportunities across all Jordanian governorates, forming the basis of a "Tourism Investment Map".
The sixth priority is training and employment. The tourism sector currently employs 56,300 workers, primarily in hotels and restaurants. The ministry's new training strategy will focus on:
Upskilling job seekers and current employees
Enhancing service quality in local communities
Last year, 1,100 trainees completed 11 training programs, and the ministry compiled a database of over 220 local tourism experiences across Jordan.
The seventh priority is domestic tourism, with a focus on the "Urdunna Jannah" program. Although domestic tourism does not significantly contribute to total tourism revenues, the program was designed to stimulate local tourism and support low-income Jordanians by offering:
Free transportation
Free tour guides
Discounts on hotels, restaurants, and camps
The Urdunna Jannah program has also helped support businesses in the Golden Triangle (Petra, Aqaba, Wadi Rum), which suffered a decline in international visitors due to the war on Gaza. The ministry redirected 129,100 local visitors to the Golden Triangle out of 311,800 total domestic tourists last year.
The eighth priority is site management. Key historical sites such as Jerash, Amman Citadel, Machaerus, Umm Qais, Umm ar-Rasas, Ajloun Castle, Aqaba Castle, and Shobak Castle are core tourism assets, and their restoration and maintenance remain a top priority.
Over 70 renovation and conservation projects have been implemented, including:
Establishing the Research and Preservation Center for Archaeological Artifacts in Nuwaijis
Restoring the Falah Al-Hamad Heritage House
Launching the Regional Conservation and Restoration Center in Jerash
Opening the Tafileh Museum
As part of its efforts to gain global recognition, Jordan successfully added Umm al-Jimal to the UNESCO World Heritage List. To maximize its impact, the ministry will invest in site improvements, visitor centers, signage, local guides, and promotional materials while developing business opportunities for local communities, such as shops, restaurants, and handicraft markets.
The ninth priority is legislation and regulations. The ministry is working on finalizing the bylaws and regulations of the new Tourism Law, enacted in May 2024. Additionally, it will classify tourism-related activities and streamline licensing procedures through local authorities to facilitate investment.
The tenth priority is digital transformation, a core focus for 2025. The ministry is collaborating with the Government Performance and Achievement Monitoring Unit and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship to:
Develop a digital tourism strategy
Digitize tourism data collection for better decision-making
Launch a Tourism Data Management Platform
The eleventh priority is crisis management. The ministry will develop comprehensive crisis response plans to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the tourism sector.
The twelfth and final priority is research and studies. The ministry plans to conduct several key studies, including:
Tourist satisfaction surveys
Inbound and outbound visitor analysis
Tourism Satellite Account research
These studies will support evidence-based decision-making for policy development and sector growth.
Conclusion
These 12 strategic priorities aim to position Jordan as a top global tourism destination, strengthen the sector’s resilience, enhance investment opportunities, and expand tourism markets while embracing digital transformation and sustainable growth.
