Amman, Feb. 1 (Petra) - The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Sunday marked the 64th birthday of His Majesty King Abdullah II at the Jordan Museum, in the presence of Chairman of the House Tourism and Antiquities Committee MP Salem Al-Omari, Senators Sand Al-Naimat and Fawaz Hamdallah, heads of tourism associations, and representatives of the Ministry, the Department of Antiquities, the Jordan Tourism Board, and the Jordan Museum.

During the event, the ministry reviewed key achievements in the tourism sector under the King’s reign.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazin said that since assuming his constitutional powers, His Majesty has given special attention to the tourism sector, believing in its vital role in supporting the national economy, creating jobs, and achieving sustainable local development.

He said the royal directives have provided successive governments with a clear roadmap to develop tourism products and enhance their regional and global competitiveness through a vision focused on investing in people and places, preserving national heritage, and developing infrastructure and tourism services.

Hijazin noted that royal interest in tourism stems from its economic importance and direct impact on reducing unemployment and improving social welfare. He said royal directives have focused on providing the necessary facilities and incentives to advance the sector and make it attractive and competitive, reflecting Jordan’s historical, environmental, and cultural assets.

In this context, the ministry aligned its plans and programs with the Economic Modernization Vision for 2023–2033, considering tourism a priority sector under the "Jordan as a Global Destination" pillar, aiming to create 99,000 jobs, boost investment, and increase tourism income.

The tourism sector recorded a strong performance in 2025, with tourism income contributing about 13.2% to gross domestic product. The number of international visitors reached around 7 million, exceeding targets by 6.7%, while tourism revenues reached about JD5.5 billion, surpassing targets by 0.6%.

Progress was also recorded in women’s empowerment, with 8,551 women employed in the sector. The number of tourism establishments reached 3,834, while hotel keys increased to around 38,000, particularly in Aqaba, Petra, and Wadi Rum, reflecting growth in tourism infrastructure.

As part of strategic planning, the ministry prepared a draft national sectoral strategy for 2026–2029 in partnership with relevant stakeholders, identifying 31 strategic projects and updating the sector’s strategic plan.

At the international level, four Jordanian sites have been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List: As-Salt, Al-Maghtas (Baptism Site), Wadi Rum and Umm Al-Rasas. Several archaeological and natural sites were also added to the Tentative List, including Jerash, Umm Qais, Qasr Al-Qastal, Shobak, Pella (Tabqat Fahl), Dana, Azraq, Mujib, Umm Al-Jimal, the Jordanian Harrat, and the Aqaba Marine Reserve.

Jordan has also registered five elements on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, including mansaf, al-samer, and Bedouin heritage in Petra and Wadi Rum, as well as joint files such as the palm tree and Arabic calligraphy.

Several Jordanian sites have received international recognition. Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, while Al-Maghtas has been recognized as a global Christian pilgrimage site. The Vatican has approved five Christian pilgrimage sites in Jordan. Umm Qais, Al-Sal’a village, and North Azraq were selected among the world’s best tourism villages.

Jordan has been designated a regional destination for medical tourism, Madaba was named Arab Tourism Capital, Irbid was named Arab Capital of Culture, and Jordan won the chairmanship of the Middle East Regional Commission of the UN World Tourism Organization.

In digital transformation, the ministry continued to automate its services, develop its technical infrastructure, enhance cybersecurity, connect directorates to the government network, and launch national digital systems and platforms, most notably "Urdun Jannah".

Tourism products were developed through establishing and upgrading 11 visitor centers, creating the Discovery and Challenge Center in Shobak, rehabilitating sites for persons with disabilities, expanding the "Urdun Jannah" program, developing adventure tourism trails, and linking them to the Jordan Trail, 80% of which has been completed.

The ministry also implemented training and employment programs for local communities, tourism workers and service providers.

On the legislative front, the ministry continued regulatory reform by updating laws governing the sector, issuing modern regulations and instructions, and establishing the Tourism Sector Development Fund to strengthen governance, stimulate investment and improve service quality.

At the end of the ceremony, participants jointly produced a mosaic artwork bearing an image of His Majesty King Abdullah II, expressing loyalty and belonging and pride in the Hashemite leadership.

//Petra// AF