Tourism
From The Report: Jordan 2013
View in Online Reader

A major airport expansion, along with the addition of new international air routes, is expected to boost tourism and ease bottlenecks in the near term. Niche markets like medical tourism and ecotourism are offering promising avenues for sector expansion. The industry resumed brisk revenue growth in 2012, marking its continued recovery from the regional slowdown. The meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions segment is expected to continue to grow, and several medium-sized venues already exist in Amman for these purposes, further helping to boost tourism’s contribution to the economy.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Cultivating potential: Public-private partnerships and investments in several niches are fuelling a rebound
OBG
plus

Although Jordan does not have the oil and gas reserves of many of its neighbours, the country did not wholly lose out on the geological lottery. The presence of nat-ural hot springs, stunning desert landscapes and the shores of the Dead Sea are all natural tourism resources. These attractive geological features, combined with the ruins of the Nabataeans, Greeks, Romans and oth-er civilisations, have left the kingdom well poised to develop its tourism sector. In addition, Jordan has the human…

Analysis

Partners in development: The government is reaching out to private sector stakeholders to plan projects, promote investment and improve tourism infrastructure
OBG
plus

In recent years lawmakers have found themselves in an increasingly difficult position, as regional unrest has contributed to both falling revenues and rising costs for government operations within the kingdom. “The country has faced challenges during the year from the disruption of the flow of natural gas, the ongo-ing conflict in Syria and an acceleration of [the] influx of refugees,” the IMF said in its 2012 year-end assess-ment of the country. “Combined with higher oil and food prices…

Analysis

A regional operation: The medical tourism segment is benefitting from an influx of Middle Eastern patients
OBG
plus

Over the past decade, a combination of factors like high-quality care and low costs have helped attract an increasing number of patients to Jordan as medical tourists. The sector has gained more international recognition in recent years, as well. In a 2009-10 review of the global medical tourism industry, the World Bank ranked Jordan fifth best in the world and first in the Middle East. Thanks to increased arrivals from region-al medical tourists, metrics for the sector have seen major gains…