Hotel occupancy rates and revenues in Jordan increased in the first quarter of the year, according to a Jordan Tourism Ministry report.

The report said the number of guests in rated hotels increased by 23% to 555,210 in the January-April period, compared with the same period in 2009.

Revenues also rose to JD7.8m ($10.9m) in the first four months at tourist sites, compared with JD5.465m ($7.7m) last year.

Overall revenue posted a 32% increase with JD700m ($988m) in the first quarter alone, according to jordantimes.com.

The number of visitors to the country rose by 27.5% while overnight tourists increased by 33% and same-day tourists increased by 20.7%.