Amman: The tourism sector recorded notable progress in October, with a series of achievements aligned with the Economic Modernization Vision aimed at boosting competitiveness, diversifying tourism products, empowering local communities, and supporting sustainable growth.
According to Jordan News Agency, the Ministry of Tourism's monthly achievements brief indicated that the Kingdom welcomed approximately 540,000 visitors during October. This reflects continued growth in demand for Jordan as a destination and meets the Vision's target for the total number of visitors, both overnight and same-day.
Tourism revenues saw a rise of 3.4 percent compared to the same month last year, reaching $600.8 million. This growth aligns with the Vision's focus on increasing inbound visitor spending and expanding tourism income.
Domestic tourism also showed strong activity, with nearly 25,000 participants joining the "Urdunna Jannah" program last month. This initiative provided direct support to local service sectors and helped to broaden economic benefits across the governorates. The ministry conducted 185 inspection and awareness tours of tourism establishments and processed 64 complaints to enhance service quality and reinforce safety and competitiveness.
In efforts to support sustainable tourism and community development, the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority to regulate tourism professions and activities. Additionally, the ministry incorporated Qatraneh Castle into the "Urdunna Jannah" trail and initiated school trips to Petra, alongside implementing joint cleanliness and awareness campaigns with Nahno and the "Youth Imprint" initiative.
Internationally, Jordan received recognition with North Azraq Village being selected among the world's best tourism villages for 2025. This accolade bolsters the Kingdom's global tourism profile and supports efforts to attract investment and strengthen destination competitiveness.
The ministry continued its workforce development efforts by launching training programs for service providers along the Jordan Trail in Umm Qais and completing a similar program in Ajloun. This initiative is part of a project to train and qualify job seekers and workers in the tourism sector.
In terms of heritage protection, the Department of Antiquities announced the inclusion of King Abdullah I's Palace in the 2025 ALECSO Architectural Heritage Register. The department also initiated preservation and rehabilitation projects in Abila, Machaerus, and Jerash, and completed seven field archaeological projects with international missions. Several of these efforts are incorporated into the 2026-2029 executive program of the Economic Modernization Vision.
On the promotion front, the Jordan Tourism Board advanced its international outreach by launching a joint strategy with Qatar to strengthen access to Gulf markets. It hosted the global DWP wedding conference and supported the launch of the National Jordan Trail thru-hike. Additionally, Jordan won two gold awards at Expo 2025 Osaka, expanding its visibility in Asian markets.
Air connectivity experienced significant expansion as Ryanair announced an expanded winter schedule offering 300,000 seats to 18 destinations. Concurrently, Eurowings began operating two weekly flights from Stuttgart to Amman, developments that support the Vision's initiative to connect Jordan with target markets and increase visitor numbers.