Tourism and the economy

A global Perspective
Tourism is one of the biggest and most important movers of
the world economy. The world tourism organization expects the
number of tourists to grow to 935 million people in 2010.
Statistics reveal that tourism accounts for 1! of global "#$%
&! of global investment% and almost 9.'! of total government
expenditure. The sector has created 200 million (obs
worldwide% representing 11! of the total global wor)force.
The *+,T- forecasts a growth in international tourist.s
arrivals of between /! and ! in 2011% 0elow the estimated
percentage of growth rate in 2011 distributed by regions1
,orld1/2!
3urope1 22/!
4sia and the $aci5c1 &29!
4mericas1 /2'!
4frica1 /2&
6iddle 3ast is expected to continue showing the strongest
growth to reach &210!
www.visit(ordan.com
Tourism and the Jordanian economy
"enerating 2 billion and /27 million 8ordanian #inars 9:7./'1
billion;% tourism is recognized as one of the most important
components of the 8ordanian economy. The sector has been
instrumental in attracting local% regional and international
investment% in addition to creating (obs% and generating hard
currency revenues.
<onstituting 2'! of total receipts of the current account in the
national 0alance of $ayments% government statistics put
tourism as the 7
rd
most important contributor after commodity
exports and expatriate remittances. Tourism also constitutes
'/! of total services balance receipts% and 17.0! to 8ordan=s
"#$.
Job opportunities
Tourism accounts more than /2%000 direct (obs and an
estimated 170%000 indirect (obs impacting the lives of more
than >00%000 people. <urrent plans aim at raising direct
tourism (obs to 1%000% in addition to creating 700%000 direct
and indirect (ob opportunities in supporting sectors.
Direct jobs in the tourism sector (200220!0"
www.visit(ordan.com
The growth of the tourism sector has helped create and
develop thousands of small2 and medium2sized businesses
around the ?ingdom. @t has also inAuenced important changes
in 8ordan=s wor) culture. ,omen currently constitute 10.0! of
the current (ob total. "rowth has also been reAected on the
educational system% where hospitality is becoming a favorite
sub(ect for high school students. "raduates can pursue
specialized education at the 8ordan 4pplied *niversity <ollege
of Bospitality and Tourism% in addition to a number of the
8ordanian universities that teach the Bospitality specialty.
.
Tourist numbers and e#penditure levels
The number of tourists visiting 8ordan has been increasing
steadily over the past few years. @n 2010% overnight visitors
totaled /. million% while same day visitors reached 7.&
million.
Cocus on the Duality of tourists 9especially from 3urope; has
raised the number of nights spent in the ?ingdom and
increased tourism income to 2./27 billion 8ordanian #inars% a
decrease of 1&.2! from 2009.
www.visit(ordan.com
$ncome %rom tourism (200&20!0"
$nvestment in the tourism sector
The past decade has witnessed a Aurry of investment activity
in the tourism sector to meet the increasing numbers of
visitors to the ?ingdom. @nvestment in tourism has totaled
almost 2.9 billion #inars between 199' and 2009% with direct
foreign investments constituting 7!.
The coming few years will witness the unveiling of several
pro(ects including hotels% convention centers% and recreational
facilities in 4mman% 4Daba% and the #ead Sea% in addition to a
new airport.
$nvestment levels in tourism (200&200'"
(otel rooms
There is a total of 27%>>2 hotel rooms in 8ordan% of which '%'9&
are in 2star hotels% 7%2> in /2star hotels% and 7%172 in 72star
hotels.
Several pro(ects are underway that are expected to add %000
rooms by the year 2012% mostly in 4Daba and the #ead Sea.
www.visit(ordan.com