Jordan’s Tourism Income Up 11%

AMMAN, 29 August 2005 — Jordan’s income from tourism grew by 11 percent in the first half of the year, to 420 million dinars ($593 million) from 379 million dinars ($535 million) in the same period of 2004, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Alia Bouran announced yesterday. “We expect tourism’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to hit 1 billion dinars ($1.4 billion) this year, Bouran said at a press conference. “Besides having a direct effect on Jordan’s balance of payments, the income from the tourism industry reflects positively on several sectors of the economy,” she added.