AMMAN - Jordan's tourism revenues soared 15.6 percent in the first five months of 2012, generating 981.3 million dinars ($1.3 billion), the central bank said on Tuesday.
"Tourism revenues were estimated at 981.3 million dinars from January to May 2012, a 15.6-percent increase compared to the same period last year," the bank said in a statement.
"The majority of tourists were from Libya, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United States. These figures clearly indicate that tourism in Jordan is going back to normal."
Tourism, which contributes 14 percent to GDP, and bank transfers from Jordanians working abroad are the top sources of hard currency earnings in the kingdom of 6.7 million people.
Jordan has dozens of tourist attractions, including the Nabatean pink-rock city of Petra, the ancient Roman town of Jerash, the Dead Sea, which is the lowest point on earth, and the Red Sea resort of Aqaba.
Tourism revenues in Jordan dropped by 16 percent in 2011 as pro-democracy revolts across the Arab world took their toll on Jordan.
