Number of Madaba tourists drops by 40% in first quarter

MADABA — A total of 28,702 tourists visited Madaba during the first three months of 2015, compared to 48,209 visitors in the same period last year, Wael Jaanini, the governorate’s tourist director, said Monday.

He attributed the 40 per cent decrease to regional political conditions and their repercussions on local tourism.

The French topped the list of Madaba visitors with 3,970 tourists, followed by 3,779 Germans, 3,183 Spanish nationals and 2,542 Americans, Jaanini added.

The most visited sites include Mount Nebo, Madaba Visitors Centre, Apostles Church, Madaba Museum, Archaeological Park and Maeen Hot Springs, he noted.

A total of 208,959 tourists visited Madaba in 2014.