Jordan’s tourism income surged 24.9 percent in July 2026, reaching $926.2 million, narrowing the year-to-date decline to 0.2 percent with total tourism receipts of $4.42 billion for the first seven months, according to Central Bank of Jordan data reported by the Jordan News Agency (Petra).
Tourism income from Arab visitors increased 12.8 percent, and from Asian nationalities rose 3.9 percent in the same period. However, earnings declined from several other groups: income from Jordanians living abroad fell 8.9 percent, from US nationals by 20.6 percent, European tourists by 24.7 percent, and other nationalities by 39.7 percent during the first seven
months of 2026, Petra reported.
Regional Tourism Trends Amid Conflict
The Middle East tourism sector experienced a 14 percent drop in international arrivals in the first quarter of 2026 due to ongoing regional conflicts. UN Tourism’s June World Tourism Barometer attributes the decline to a US-led conflict with Iran disrupting flights and lowering traveler confidence.
Despite the regional downturn, Oman reported a 3.4 percent year-on-year rise in inbound visitors in July to 362,296, and its hotel revenues for 3-to-5-star properties increased 11.3 percent during the first seven months. Egypt also diverged from regional patterns, welcoming 6.1 million tourists in the first four months of 2026—up
7 percent from the previous year—and reported a 14.9 percent increase in tourism revenues to $14.4 billion during the first nine months of the fiscal year, according to Egyptian government data and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
Causes of Disruption in Jordan and the Middle East
Jordan’s tourism disruptions stemmed from regional conflicts causing flight cancellations and diminished travel demand. The ongoing US-Iran conflict specifically affected airline operations throughout the Middle East, forcing cancellations and raising airfares through increased oil and jet-fuel prices. These conditions reduced available flight capacity and deterred international visitors.
UN Tourism forecasts that these disruptions will lower global international-arrival growth by one to two percentage points
from the initial 3 to 4 percent outlook for 2026. The extent of this impact depends on the conflict’s longevity and scale.
Official Statements and Sector Impacts
The Jordanian Association of Travel and Tourism Offices and Companies characterized the 2026 situation as an “unprecedented” crisis for Jordan’s tourism sector amid widespread flight cancellations and weaker demand. UN Tourism highlighted how the regional conflict directly reduced traveler confidence and constrained air connectivity.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced Egypt’s 14.9 percent growth in tourism revenues during the first nine months of the fiscal year as a notable regional positive.
Tourism spending by Jordanians and residents rose slightly
by 0.3 percent in July to $248.1 million but declined 7.5 percent year-to-date to $1.154 billion, reflecting broader economic pressure on local travel.
Jordan’s tourism income rebound in July amid uneven regional trends illustrates resilience despite the ongoing disruptions from flight cancellations and increased airfare costs associated with the regional conflict.
