Jordan's tourism ministry has reported that overall tourist numbers in the first quarter rose 26.2% to 1,534,802 visitors, compared to 1,216,004 in the same period of 2009. With the exception of African visitors whose numbers have declined by 5%, all other regions have witnessed increasing numbers particularly from Europe. American visitors increased by 8.7%, Asia-Pacific nationals by 27%, South Asians by 29.4%, Arabs by 20.8%, and Europeans by 35.5%, the ministry said. Figures by the kingdom's central bank showed that tourism receipts in the first quarter went up by 39.7% to JD503m ($701m) from JD360m ($501m) in the same period of 2009.