Arab and Asian markets drive revenue growth of 20.4% and 13.4%, respectively, while tourism receipts from European and American visitors decline.
Amman – Jordan – Al Rehla
Jordan's tourism revenue increased by 17.2% in October 2026, reaching $724.8 million compared with the same month last year, reflecting continued positive performance in the sector despite significant differences among its tourism source markets.
Preliminary data released by the Central Bank of Jordan on Thursday, November 12, showed that total tourism revenue during the first ten months of 2026 rose by 6% year-on-year to $7.077 billion.
Arab and Asian Markets Lead Growth
The data revealed that tourism revenue generated by Arab visitors increased by 20.4% between January and October 2026, while revenue from Asian visitors grew by 13.4%.
In contrast, tourism receipts from European visitors declined by 24%, while those from American visitors fell by 15.2%.
Revenue from Jordanian expatriates decreased by 3.1%, while receipts from visitors of other nationalities dropped by 36.8%.
These figures highlight significant differences in the performance of Jordan's tourism source markets, with revenue growth from Arab and Asian visitors contrasting with declining receipts from several Western markets.
The published data does not provide a direct explanation for these differences. Moreover, changes in tourism revenue do not necessarily reflect equivalent changes in visitor numbers.
Outbound Tourism Spending Declines by 4.3%
Regarding outbound travel, Central Bank figures showed that spending by Jordanians and residents on tourism abroad increased by 2.6% in October, reaching $155.9 million.
However, total outbound tourism expenditure during the first ten months of 2026 declined by 4.3% to $1.667 billion.
As a result, the arithmetic difference between inbound tourism revenue and outbound tourism expenditure reached approximately $5.41 billion during the period, compared with around $4.92 billion in the corresponding ten months of 2025.
Al Rehla Perspective | What Do the Figures Mean for the Tourism Industry?
The results underscore the importance of Arab and Asian markets in supporting Jordan's tourism revenue during 2026, providing a significant indicator for hotels, tour operators and travel companies operating in the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, declining revenue from European and American markets highlights the need to examine visitor arrivals, average tourist spending and overnight stays to determine whether the downturn reflects reduced visitor volumes or changes in spending patterns.
Despite October's revenue growth, the available figures alone are insufficient to confirm improvements in hotel occupancy or an increase in tourist arrivals, both of which require additional operational and statistical data.
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