Official figures released Sunday show that tourism revenues in Jordan increased 32.2 percent in January to JD158 million, up from JD119 million in January 2009.  Statistics issued by the Central Bank of Jordan show there was a 20 percent increase in the number of visitors to Jordan in January 2010, to 478,169, compared to 399,268 for the same period in 2009. 

The number of visitors increased at most of the Kingdom’s tourists sites, including the ancient city of Gadara in Umm Qais, which had the biggest increase with 9,544 visitors in January 2010, compared to 4,006 visitors to this northern site in January 2009.  The mosaic city of Madabe had the second biggest increase at 60.7 percent, with 16,406 visitors in January 2010, up from 10,211 tourists in January 2009.   Wadi Rum had the biggest decrease in visitor numbers – a 50 percent drop to 5,607 tourists in January 2010, down from 11,263 visitors in January 2009.