Ammon News - The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) is moving to establish a light industries zone in the Taybeh area as part of a broader strategy to diversify the local economy and reduce dependence on tourism revenues, officials said Wednesday.

The planned project forms part of a long-term economic vision aimed at strengthening investment activity and creating more sustainable sources of income in the Petra region, according to Authority Chairman Adnan Sawair.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Sawair said the authority is preparing a package of measures designed to attract industrial and light manufacturing investments through infrastructure upgrades and incentives for investors, with the goal of supporting local economic activity and generating employment opportunities for residents.

He said the initiative comes amid growing economic pressures and limited investment in non-tourism sectors, underscoring the need to diversify the region’s economic base to shield it from regional and global disruptions that directly impact tourism flows.

Sawair said the authority’s diversification strategy extends beyond light industries to include sustainable agriculture, handicrafts, entrepreneurship, and digital economy initiatives.

Among the projects under development are agricultural business incubators, the Asila Nursery project, and programs aimed at expanding the value of local handmade and craft products.

The authority is also seeking to strengthen investment attraction efforts through the creation of the planned industrial zone, which officials say could help expand the region’s production capacity and stimulate broader economic growth.

Despite lower hotel occupancy rates and weaker tourism activity, Sawair said the authority will continue supporting workers in the tourism sector through training and rehabilitation programs, alongside initiatives linked to sustainable tourism and the blue economy.

He added that efforts are underway to boost domestic tourism through the "Urdunna Jannah" program while broadening Petra’s tourism offering to include environmental, cultural, and heritage experiences, including showcasing Bedouin life across the region’s six communities.

Sawair also highlighted vocational training programs being implemented at the Shaqila Handicrafts Training Center, as well as initiatives aimed at empowering local communities through small-scale and entrepreneurial projects.

He said the authority is pursuing multiple development pathways centered on economic diversification, with tourism positioned as one component alongside renewable energy, agriculture, and light industries in an effort to achieve long-term economic and social stability in the Petra region.