Decline of Jordanian Tourism Income & Foreign Remittances

  • Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
  • 24 September 2020
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Jordan's tourism income fell sharply by 63.7% during the first seven months of this year, recording 819 million dinars (1.2 billion dollars), compared with the same period in 2019, as Jordanian tourism income reached a record high when it increased by 10.2% to $5.8 billion.

The Central Bank of Jordan revealed that payments for travel from home to abroad also declined during the period from January to the end of July by 67% on an annual basis, to reach 205 million dinars (289 million dollars), as a result of the complete cessation of foreign tourism to Jordan, as of March 17, with the start of the impact of the Corona pandemic on the country and the complete closure of airports and borders.

The repercussions of Corona extended to the remittances of Jordanians working abroad, to decline by 9.8% on an annual basis, during the first seven months of this year, to reach 1.38 billion dinars (1.94 billion dollars). On the monthly level, the total remittances of workers abroad decreased only during July by 11%, compared to the same month of 2019, to reach 212.6 million dinars (299.7 million dinars). The remittances of workers abroad are one of the important sources of foreign reserves in Jordan, and the Jordanian government expects the return of thousands of citizens from abroad, especially from the Gulf countries, against the background of the negative economic consequences of the outbreak of the Corona pandemic.

Source (Anadolu Agency, Edited)