Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

What Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities does

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MOTA) is the government ministry of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan responsible for managing the country's tourism sector and preserving its archaeological heritage. Founded as a government institution with 51-100 employees headquartered in Amman, the Ministry operates as both a regulator and a national tourism promotion body, licensing and classifying tourism operators, hotels, restaurants, and tour guides, while also coordinating international marketing through the Jordan Tourism Board. It oversees a heritage portfolio of 100,000 archaeological sites, 16,000 nationally registered heritage assets, and 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites including Petra (one of the New Seven Wonders of the World), Qusayr Amra, Um er-Rasas, Wadi Rum, Baptism Site, As-Salt, and Um al-Jimal (inscribed in 2024).

The Ministry's core products and programs include the Jordan Pass unified entry ticketing platform for international tourists, the 'Our Jordan is Paradise' (أردننا جنة) subsidized domestic tourism program which reached 288,000 participants in 10 months via 167 licensed tourism offices and 9,750 transport buses, the Christian Pilgrimage Route linking Vatican-recognized holy sites, the Jordan Trail national hiking program, and a Mobile App called Jannah for domestic trip booking. Underlying technology includes a Power BI-based public statistics dashboard, electronic invoicing systems for tourism sector compliance, digital visitor management at heritage sites, and an emerging AI applications initiative developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, though no production AI systems are documented.

The Ministry does not generate commercial revenue in the traditional sense, as it is funded through the Jordanian government budget. It regulates site entry fees across Jordan's archaeological sites (e.g., Petra, Jerash, Dead Sea) and operates the Jordan Pass as a unified subscription-style ticket. Customer segments span domestic tourists (primary segment under the subsidized program), international cultural heritage tourists, Christian pilgrims, medical and wellness tourists, adventure tourists, and regional tourists from neighboring Arab markets. The tourism sector under its oversight contributed approximately 15% to Jordan's GDP, reaching 5.1 billion JOD in tourism income with 6.1 million visitors in 2024 despite regional instability.

Name

Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Legal name

Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (وزارة السياحة والآثار)

Website

https://mota.gov.jo

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is a Jordanian government ministry that regulates the tourism sector and preserves archaeological heritage across 100,000 sites and 7 UNESCO World Heritage locations. It serves international visitors, domestic tourists, and pilgrimage travelers through programs like Jordan Pass and the 'Our Jordan is Paradise' initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Tourism Administration

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (71212), Museums (71211), Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious Landmarks & Pilgrimage Sites (Temples, Churches, Shrines) (THAJACAG), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Monuments, Statues & Memorials (THAJACAB)

Keywords

• Heritage site management
• Tourism administration
• Archaeological preservation
• Destination marketing
• Cultural heritage tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Amman

HQ country

Jordan

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is the government body of Jordan that regulates, develops, and promotes the country's tourism sector while preserving and managing its archaeological and antiquities heritage. It oversees approximately 100,000 archaeological sites including 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites, licenses and classifies hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and guides, and operates tourism programs such as the Jordan Pass unified entry ticket, the "Our Jordan is Paradise" domestic tourism program, the Christian Pilgrimage Route, and the Jordan Trail. The Ministry also runs the National Tourism Research Platform, statistical dashboards, and investment guides supporting the sector.

Product overview

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities operates primarily as a government ministry managing Jordan's tourism sector and archaeological heritage. Its digital offerings consist of an official website providing information and services, along with several tourism programs including the Jordan Our Paradise domestic tourism initiative, the Christian Pilgrimage Route, the Jordan Trail hiking program, and the Training and Employment in Tourism program. The ministry has also organized workshops on AI applications in tourism and maintains a Power BI-based statistical dashboard for public data access. No commercial software products are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jordan Pass (جواز الأردن): A unified entry ticket program for tourists visiting Jordan's archaeological and tourist sites, providing access to multiple locations with a single purchase.
• Jordan Our Paradise (أردننا جنة)
• Our NTRP (منصة الابحاث السياحية الوطنية)

Products and services

• Jordan Pass (جواز الأردن)

Quantifiable outcome

• Tourism income reached 5.1 billion dinars in 2024 with 6.1 million visitors
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vatican / Holy SeecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2025Joint organization of the 'Jordan: Dawn of Christianity' exhibition at the Vatican and Rome from January 31 to February 28, 2025. The exhibition, held under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, showcased over 90 rare artifacts demonstrating Jordan's role as the birthplace of Christianity. The exhibition commemorated 30 years of diplomatic relations between Jordan and the Vatican.
• French Embassy in JordancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2025A Jordanian-French agreement for the partial reconstruction of the staircase of the Temple of Zeus in Jerash archaeological site. The agreement, signed with the French Embassy, comes within the framework of ongoing cooperation between Jordan and France in archaeology, implemented by the Department of Antiquities and the French Institute of the Near East since 1982. The total budget is approximately 884,000 euros over two years, with the French government funding 420,000 euros in year one and 464,000 euros in year two.
• UNWTO (World Tourism Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Jordan, as a founding member since 1975 and current President of the Regional Commission for the Middle East (2023-2025), collaborates with UNWTO on tourism development strategies, statistics standardization, sustainability initiatives, digital transformation, human capital development, and regional tourism promotion. Jordan hosts the Investment Guide launch and was designated a regional center for medical tourism.
• Ministry of Water and IrrigationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2024A memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation to improve water use efficiency in the tourism sector. The agreement aims to support tourism establishments in water conservation, promote sustainable water management practices, and implement the National Water Conservation Plan (2024-2026) coordinated through the USAID-funded Water Conservation Project.
• Government of South KoreaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 December 2024The Ministry received 10 electric vehicles as a gift from the Government of South Korea to enhance services at tourist and archaeological sites. The vehicles are designated for use at major heritage sites to improve visitor experience and accessibility for people with disabilities, pregnant women, elderly, and other beneficiaries.
• Ministry of Digital Economy and EntrepreneurshipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration on digital transformation in tourism including AI applications, electronic invoicing systems, and digital skills training for tourism sector employees. Joint workshops on AI applications in tourism organized to prepare ministry staff for advanced technology deployment.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration on heritage protection and World Heritage site management. Jordan has 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites including Petra, Qusayr Amra, Um er-Rasas, Wadi Rum, Baptism Site, As-Salt, and newly inscribed Um al-Jimal. Ongoing cooperation includes environmental management for Petra and potential listing of the Aqaba Marine Reserve.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: Holds an almost identical mandate and name—managing tourism promotion plus antiquities/heritage preservation at national scale. Both ministries combine tourism regulation, UNESCO site stewardship (Petra vs. Pyramids/Luxor), and inbound marketing under one roof, making it the closest structural peer.
• Italian Ministry of Tourism: Manages tourism policy and promotion for one of the world's most heritage-dense destinations (largest number of UNESCO sites). Direct comparability in balancing mass heritage tourism, conservation, and regulatory oversight.
• Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism: Combines cultural heritage protection with tourism promotion for a destination whose brand centers on UNESCO sites (Hagia Sophia, Ephesus, Cappadocia). Direct overlap with MoTA's combined tourism-and-antiquities remit.
• Jordan Tourism Board (JTB): The international marketing arm of Jordanian tourism referenced as a sub-brand of MoTA. Operates global promotion, FAM trips, and partnerships with tour operators, directly executing the destination-marketing function the ministry oversees.
• Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, Air Transport and Social Economy: National tourism ministry for a heritage-anchored North African destination. Comparable on cultural tourism, UNESCO site management, and international promotion in a geopolitically adjacent region.
• Saudi Ministry of Tourism: National tourism authority pursuing aggressive visitor-growth targets (Vision 2030) anchored on heritage and cultural assets. Comparable role in destination marketing, site regulation, and sector development, with a larger budget scale.
• Greek Ministry of Tourism: National tourism ministry for a heritage-driven Mediterranean destination. Comparable responsibilities around UNESCO site stewardship, cruise and cultural tourism regulation, and promotion in a region with geopolitical sensitivities.
• Israeli Ministry of Tourism: Neighboring Middle East tourism ministry with strong religious/heritage tourism positioning (Jerusalem, Holy Land sites). Similar regional dynamics, pilgrimage markets, and security-sensitive operating environment.

Others

• UNWTO (UN Tourism): The UN specialized agency for tourism policy, of which Jordan is a founding member (1975) and current Regional Commission president. Sets global tourism standards, statistics, and sustainability frameworks that shape MoTA's operating environment.

Broad incumbents

• UNESCO World Heritage Centre: The UN body that inscribes and oversees the World Heritage sites that anchor Jordan's tourism brand. MoTA partners with UNESCO on site management, inscription processes, and conservation frameworks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mota_jordan
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UComkR-yuX0qOI10LhNZzYRg
• Facebookfacebook.com/mota.jordan
• Instagraminstagram.com/mota.jordan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ministry-of-tourism-and-antiquities-jordan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities