DESTINATION REVIEW FROM A SOCIO-ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE IN ADVENTURE TOURISM JORDAN This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union under the ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation of Barcelona and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union or the Programme management structures. The European Union is made up of 28 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of 50 years, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders. The 2014-2020 ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme is a multilateral Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) initiative funded by the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI). The Programme objective is to foster fair, equitable and sustainable economic, social and territorial development, which may advance cross-border integration and valorise participating countries’ territories and values. The following 13 countries participate in the Programme: Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Palestine, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia. The Managing Authority (JMA) is the Autonomous Region of Sardinia (Italy). Official Programme languages are Arabic, English and French. For more information, please visit: www.enicbcmed.eu MEDUSA project has a budget of 3.3 million euros, being 2.9 million euros the European Union contribution (90%). CONTENTS 0. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................. 1 1. SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL PROFILE ........................................................ 2 1.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 ADMINISTRATIVE, POLITICAL AND TERRITORIAL STRUCTURE .......................................... 4 1.3 DEMOGRAPHIC EVOLUTION ........................................................................................................ 5 1.4 ECONOMIC STRUCTURE .............................................................................................................. 5 1.5 EMPLOYMENT AND LIVING CONDITIONS ................................................................................7 1.6 LOCAL CULTURE ............................................................................................................................. 8 1.7 GENDER DIMENSION IN TOURISM .............................................................................................. 9 2. INFRASTRUCTURES AND MOBILITY ........................................................................11 2.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW .....................................................................................................................13 2.2 HARD INFRASTRUCTURE ............................................................................................................13 2.3 SOFT INFRASTRUCTURE .............................................................................................................15 2.4 ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION ON HERITAGE AND CULTURE ............................................16 3. ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE ...................................................................................... 17 3.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................19 3.2 PROTECTED AREAS .....................................................................................................................22 4. DESTINATION STRATEGY AND MANAGEMENT .................................................... 27 4.1 TOURISM IN JORDAN - NUMBERS .........................................................................................29 4.2 DESTINATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM .................................................................................30 4.3 DESTINATION STRATEGY ..........................................................................................................30 4.4 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY ............................................................................................34 4.5 LEGAL FRAMEWORK AFFECTING ADVENTURE TOURISM ...............................................35 5. ANNEX ..................................................................................................................... 37 SOURCES ..............................................................................................................................................39 0. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Jordan is considered a pillar of stability and there were 4.5 million overnight in the region. Despite challenging visitors (up 8.1% over 2018). About 40% of surroundings, Jordan has been able to Jordan’s tourism revenue comes from manage the misperceptions about its the Jordanian Diaspora. Jordan is in an safety and security and maintain positive excellent position to embrace adventure economic growth in tourism. Jordan tourism, yet adventure products are in lacks natural resources but has a highly their infancy. The Adventure Tourism educated population and aims to become product requires robust research and a regional leader in growth sectors, such development, as well as investment and as renewable energy, communication marketing efforts to grow this potentially technology, manufacturing, and tourism. lucrative sustainable prioritised tourism Last year, 2019 was heralded as a product. For Jordan to become a regional positive year for tourism in Jordan. With destination for adventure travel, a robust the growth in the sector increasing by private-sector-led effort is required. The 7.6% over 2018, compared to a global economic potential of adventure tourism increase of 6%. In 2019, tourism receipts must be assessed, and a legislative reached JD4.11 billion (up 10.2% over 2018), framework must be put in place. 1. SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL PROFILE GENERAL & SOCIAL INFO Extension Area 89.342 Km2 Population 10.193.973 (May 2020) Population Density 115 people/km2 3.843.500/10.193.973= Tourists/Residents 37% tourists Health - Hospital Beds/1000 National 1.8 people (Feb2020) Amman 2.6 1M+ 750K+ 500K+ 250K+ 100K+ 22K+ AGRICULTURE HOSPITALITY ECONOMIC INFO FINANCE GOVT.SERVICES 26% GDP (2019) 44.40 Billion USD TRADE 15% OTHER EDUCATION 12% 3236.90USD S GDP/Inhibitant (2019) E IC MANUFACTURING 10% PPP 8309.3 USD R V EA R L E E OTHER 9% S .S TA T TE V GINI Indes (2018) 40% O AGRICULTURE 2% G CONSTRUCTION Unemployment Rate (Jan 2020) 19% HOSPITALITY 2% M T M E RA FINANCE 2% O A C D DE & N Tech, Services, NS U A U R C REAL ESTATE 5% Innovation (top sectors) T F A A Health, Tourism C T I T O CONSTRUCTION 6% U N R I N TRANSPORT & COMMS 9% G ELECTRICITY & WATER 1% MINING 1% ELEC & WATER MINING CULTURAL INFO Dialects and language Arabic & English •Petra UNESCO World •Baptism site Heritage Sites •Um er-Rasas (kastrom Mefa’a) 1 2 •Quseir Amra 3 68 investment Opportunities Investments (appx. JD 3.83 billion) Culture uniquenesses Bedouin Hopspitality 4 1. BAPTISM SIZE (AL-MAGHTAS)(2015) 5 2. QUEIR AMRA (1985) 3. UM ER-RASAS (KASTROM MEFAÕA)(2004) 4. PETRA (1985) 5. WADI RUM PROTECTED AREA (2011) Global Market Research And Analysis Report On Mediterranean Adventure Tourism - Jordan 3 1.1 General Overview The country is divided into twelve Jordan is in the Asia continent near Africa governorates; Irbid, Mafraq, Zarqa, Ajloun, and Europe cross-roads. The Kingdom Jerash, Madaba, Balqa, Karak, Tafileh, borders five countries, namely Syria, Iraq, Ma’an, and Aqaba and Amman, the Saudi Arabia, Palestine and West Bank capital. Each governorate is broken down and two seas; the Dead Sea (internal high into districts and sub-districts, forming salt content body of water) and the Red the administrative units. Sea. Jordan covers an extension area of a total: 89,342 square kilometres, of which Over the past decades, Jordan has been the land area is 88,780 square kilometres. centrally governed. All planning and The western region along the Jordan development processes were led by the plateau is suitable for farming. The Dead central government. Since 2015, changes Sea is the lowest geographical point in have been introduced to empower Jordan as well as the lowest point on earth governorates and districts, under the 2015 at 420 meters under sea level, while the Decentralisation Law and Municipality highest peak is Mount Jabal Umm al Dami Law, allowing first steps to be taken to in the South at 1,854 meters. The eastern enable bottom-up planning processes. side is a desert with temperatures up to By engaging the municipalities, service 40 degrees Celsius. and policy priorities can be identified at a local level. 1.2 Administrative, Political and Territorial The international donor community has long supported Jordan, offering both Structure technical and financial aid to support Jordan, which is located in a region Jordan is located at the very heart of constant economic, political, and of the Arab world. From the time the security turmoil. Jordan is committed Hashemite Kingdom was established, the to developing good governance and is country and its leadership have