AMMAN — The number of Chinese tourists arriving in Jordan reached 11,931 during the January-July period of 2026, marking a 15.9 per cent increase from 10,294 visitors recorded during the same period last year, according to Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities figures.

 

Data cited by Al Mamlaka TV showed that overnight visitors accounted for 11,160 arrivals, while same-day visitors numbered 771. During the corresponding period in 2025, the Kingdom received 9,399 overnight visitors and 895 same-day visitors.

 

His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday highlighted the importance of increasing Chinese tourist arrivals and introducing them to the Kingdom’s natural, archaeological and cultural heritage during a meeting with Trip.com Group at its Shanghai headquarters.

 

To support the growth of the Chinese tourism market, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in cooperation with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority and the Jordan Tourism Board, opened registration earlier this month for a Chinese-language tour guide training course.

 

Tourism sector experts have previously highlighted the significant potential of the Chinese market to expand Jordan’s tourism base, noting that China is the world’s largest outbound tourism market.

 

According to UN Tourism data, Chinese international tourism expenditure reached $251 billion in 2024, the highest globally, followed by the US with $179 billion.

 

The Chinese Embassy in Amman said that cross-border trips reached a record 369 million during the first half of 2026, an increase of 10.8 per cent year-on-year. It also noted that younger travellers are increasingly relying on digital platforms, including Trip.com and Xiaohongshu, to plan more flexible trips.