The number of Chinese tourists visiting Jordan from January through July 2026 reached 11,931, compared to 10,294 during the same period last year—marking a 15.9% increase. This total includes overnight tourists and same-day visitors, according to official data from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Figures reviewed by Al Mamlaka show that overnight visitors accounted for 11,160 tourists, alongside 771 same-day visitors, bringing the total number of Chinese tourists in the first seven months of this year to 11,931.
During the same period last year, overnight visitors numbered 9,399 compared to 895 same-day visitors, totaling 10,294 Chinese tourists.
During a meeting on Wednesday with Trip.com Group—a leading global travel services provider—at its headquarters in Shanghai, His Majesty King Abdullah II emphasized the importance of boosting the number of Chinese tourists visiting Jordan. His Majesty highlighted the value of introducing them to the Kingdom’s diverse natural and archaeological landmarks, tourism products, and rich cultural experiences.
Earlier this August, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities—in cooperation with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA), and the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB)—opened applications for a general tour guide training course in the Chinese language to qualify Chinese-speaking tour guides.
Tourism sector experts previously informed Al Mamlaka that significant opportunities exist within the Chinese market to support tourism in Jordan and tap into new source markets, especially given that China stands as one of the world’s largest outbound tourism markets due to its population and position as the world’s second-largest economy.
China Ranks First Globally in Outbound Tourist Spending
According to a UN Tourism report, international travel spending by Chinese tourists reached $251 billion in 2024, ranking China first globally among outbound tourism markets in terms of expenditure, surpassing the United States, whose citizens spent $179 billion.
The Chinese Embassy in Amman stated that cross-border trips into and out of China reached a record high of 369 million during the first half of 2026, representing a 10.8% increase compared to the same period last year.
In a Facebook post, the embassy noted that Chinese tourists—particularly youth—increasingly prefer flexible, independent travel and rely heavily on digital applications and platforms to plan their trips and experiences.
The embassy added that travel applications such as Trip.com and social media platforms like Xiaohongshu have become essential tools used by young Chinese travelers to select destinations and explore tourism activities.
