Amman: The Central Bank’s preliminary data reveals a remarkable surge in tourist income for Jordan during the fiscal year 2023, marking a substantial 27.4% increase, reaching a total of $7.4 billion. This notable growth can be attributed to a surge in tourist arrivals, with a recorded 25.8% rise, totaling 6,353,800 visitors.
Analyzing the specifics, the tourist income in December 2023 amounted to JD359.3 million (equivalent to $506.8 million). Although still significant, this figure reflects a marginal 3.4% decrease compared to December 2022. The decline is primarily attributed to an 8.0% reduction in tourist numbers, totaling 416.6 thousand visitors for the month, as opposed to the corresponding period in 2022.
Source: Jordan News Agency
The Egyptian Minister of Finance, Mohamed Maait, announced that Egypt had attained a primary surplus of EGP 150 billion. He emphasized that the general budget had experienced a total deficit of 4.95 percent of the gross domestic product between July and December 2023, representing the first half of FY23/24.
Minister Maait further revealed that the initial half of the current fiscal year witnessed a remarkable increase in public revenues, with a growth rate of approximately 41.6 percent compared to the corresponding period in the previous fiscal year.
This surge in revenue can be attributed to a 43.4 percent improvement in tax revenues, a result of the successful implementation of mechanization initiatives aimed at enhancing governance and integrating the informal economy.
Furthermore, official revenues saw a substantial rise of around 36.4 percent, while other revenue streams also experienced notable growth. Notably, the total amount transferred to the state treasury from the Suez Canal reached 103.3 bill
ion pounds, reflecting an impressive annual growth rate of 126.8 percent.
The Egyptian government’s commitment to implementing effective financial measures and strategies has played a significant role in achieving these positive results. The increase in tax revenues, coupled with the growth in official revenues and contributions from the Suez Canal, has contributed to the overall financial stability of the country.
Source: State Information Service Egypt