The ancient city of Petra recorded a record number of visitors during the first half of this year, amounting to about 700,000 visitors of various nationalities, according to official statistics issued by the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority.

The Chairman of the Council of Commissioners, Dr. Suleiman Al-Farajat, described this number as the highest in the history of Petra tourism, pointing out that the month of June is the most popular month for visitors, since the beginning of the city’s tourism procession.

According to the statistics, the rate of increase in visitors to Petra during the first half of this year amounted to about 102 percent over the same period last year, when the total number of visitors reached about 345,713 visitors, and about 29 percent over the same period in 2019, when the total number of visitors reached about 539,363 visitors.

During the month of June, about 87,373 visitors of various nationalities visited Petra, an increase of about 39 percent over the same month last year, and 28 percent over June of 2019.

Al-Farajat said that Petra is preparing to receive a million visitors next October and for the second time in its history, while this tourism year will end with a number of visitors that will reach about one and a half million visitors.

And between Al-Farajat, that the authority, as a result of the increasing number of visitors and for the purposes of relieving pressure on the archaeological site and preserving its historical heritage, will work to operate transport from the back road of Petra, open the cultural village to visitors, and continue to diversify the tourism product offered to tourists, with the aim of enriching the diversification of tourist destinations in the city. and enrich their experience.

Al-Farajat noted that partnerships with local community associations will be reconsidered, to ensure the employment of larger segments of the people of the region, and to promote tourism within the archaeological site.

He pointed out that this year will also witness the launch of a package of tourism programs, such as the fixed balloon project and four-wheel drive vehicles in the Al-Bayda region, and the continuation of the Petra Pink Nights Festival, in order to attract visitors from various tourist markets, and to activate the tourism and commercial movement in the region.

Al-Farajat revealed that this year will witness the opening of more hotel rooms as well as tourism investments that will provide an advanced tourism service to visitors, stressing that the authority provides all facilities for those wishing to invest in the region.

Petra