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LETTER FROM
THE DIRECTOR
Dear
Members and
Friends,
As we
welcome a
new year we
look back at
2009 and tap
ourselves on
the shoulder
for a job
well done
for
Jordanian
tourism.
2009 was a
difficult
time for the
entire
global
tourism
industry.
The global
financial
crisis took
a heavy toll
on most
countries
despite a
rebound in
the final
quarter. A
bad
situation
was made
worse by the
H1N1 virus
pandemic.
As for us in
Jordan, we
were able to
maintain
2008
figures,
which I can
confidently
describe as
an
achievement.
Tourism
revenues
remained
almost
unchanged
and stood at
JD2.064
billion
compared
with 2.089
in 2008, and
the number
of visitors
dropped by
0.2% to
7,084,552
from
7,100,483 in
2008. While
the number
of same-day
visitors
dropped by
2.3% to
3,295,660,
overnight
visitors
went up by
1.6% to
3,788,891.
This could
not have
been
realized
without the
hard work
and sincere
efforts by
all our
staff, MBRs,
members, and
partners.
However, as
things may
promise to
be brighter
in 2010, we
will need to
be
cautiously
optimistic
and keep our
vigil until
the crisis
is really
over.
The coming
few weeks
will witness
an updated
tourism
strategy
which will
constitute
an important
road map for
us and our
members and
partners. We
will also be
welcoming
our American
partners as
the third
Jordan
Travel Mart
convenes at
the Dead Sea
in February.
We look
forward to
meeting the
challenges,
and to more
and bigger
successes.
Happy 2010,
and Welcome
to this new
edition of
JTB wire.
Nayef
Al-Fayez
Managing
Director |
