Jordan Times
Sunday, June 3, 2007
‘Tourism contributes to 11% of
GDP’
IRBID (Petra) — Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit on Saturday said tourism has become
a key industry in Jordan, contributing to more than 11 per cent of the gross
domestic product.
“This figure is higher than the international rate of 10.3 per cent,” Bakhit
said during the opening of the Bait Saraya Museum in Irbid.
“The government is working to make sure all governorates benefit from growth in
the tourism sector.” Jordan last month launched a critical USAID-funded action
plan to enhance public understanding of the tourism sector and address
prevailing misconceptions jeopardising its future growth.
The National Tourism Public Awareness Strategy, or, Siyaha (tourism) is
considered a critical step for Jordan, in which investments are being poured
into marketing, developing and expanding quality services for visitors and
building new hotels to accommodate thousands of tourists projected to visit the
country in the coming years.
Bait Saraya, originally built by the Ottomans as a fort in the 19th century, was
completely renovated by the Department of Antiquities.
Bakhit toured the museum and underlined the significance of Irbid, stressing
that tourism projects in the city are designed to turn it into a tourist hub.
The prime minister inaugurated several tourism projects during the visit.