Tourism

Tourism is a crucial element of the economy, accounting for 14% of GDP in 2010. Petra remains the country’s major tourist attraction, with 459,629 visitors to the site in the first nine months of 2011. However, the tourist industry was hit hard by regional unrest in early 2011, and many joint package trips to Jordan and neighbouring countries were cancelled. Economic woes in parts of Europe have also contributed to a drop in visitors. Nevertheless, there are some signs of recovery and efforts continue to develop the sector, which benefits from the diversity of the country and the wide range of tourism products on offer in a relatively small area. This chapter includes an interview with Nayef Al Fayez, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.