This report presents findings, conclusions, and recommendations from the midterm performance
evaluation of the Building Economic Sustainability through Tourism (BEST) Activity in Jordan. BEST is
a five-year program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID
awarded an incentive-based contract to Chemonics International Inc. on June 1, 2015 and the
contract ends on May 31, 2020. The five-year, US$ 36 million Activity is to help enable Jordan's
transformation into a globally competitive tourism destination. The Activity works in partnership
with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MOTA) and builds on the work of the previous
USAID Jordan tourism development projects. Working closely with governmental, nongovernmental,
and private sector stakeholders, the Activity aims to strengthen the country's tourism
facilities and services, improve the management and promotion of tourism sites, boost marketing
efforts and encourage tourism to secondary sites. It also seeks to increase the employment of
women and youth working in the tourism sector.