ammonnews.net

Ammon News - Some 51,575 visitors from various nationalities made it to the ancient city of Petra during the month of June, compared to 15,658 in the same month of 2021, according to Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA).

Among them were 41,273 foreigners and 10,302 Jordanians and other Arab nationals, according to the statistics.

The number of foreign visitors to the red rose city during the months of June and May topped 101,913, about 70 percent of whom were foreign tourists, compared to 135,222 in the same period of 2019, the figures showed.

Chairman of PDTRA Board of Commissioners Suleiman Farajat said that the authority is optimistic about a good tourist season this year, which will make up for the losses the sector incurred as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

If the current tourist numbers continue steadily, about 400,000 foreign visitors will enter Petra by the end of the year, he predicted.

Farajat pointed to about 900 available hotel rooms, of which 350 are in service and 550 new rooms will be equipped and made ready for the season.

He also said the authority will this week mark the 15th anniversary of Petra's winning of 2nd place on the New Seven Wonders of the World Contest, an annual occasion the authority celebrates in partnership with local communities.