Ammon News - The number of visitors to Petra reached 318,311 during the first eight months of 2026, down 2.1% compared with the same period in 2025, according to preliminary figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

According to the data, Petra received around 318,311 visitors between January and August 2026, compared with 325,121 visitors during the same period in 2025, a decrease of 6,810 visitors.

The number of foreign visitors stood at 187,710 during the first eight months of 2026, compared with 228,853 during the same period in 2025, a decline of 41,143 visitors, or 18%.

Meanwhile, the number of Jordanian visitors rose to 130,601 during the same period in 2026, compared with 96,268 in 2025, an increase of 34,333 visitors, or 35.7%.

Foreign visitors accounted for around 59% of Petra's total visitors during the first eight months of 2026, while Jordanians accounted for approximately 41%. During the corresponding period in 2025, foreigners represented about 70.4% of total visitors, compared with 29.6% for Jordanians.

On a monthly basis, the total number of visitors to Petra increased by 88.4% in January 2026 compared with the same month in 2025, and by 118.2% in February.

However, visitor numbers declined by 60.7% in March, 57.4% in April, 29.5% in May, and 3.4% in June, before rebounding by 52.5% in July and 12% in August.

According to the website of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, Petra is one of the world's most important archaeological sites and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Located in southern Jordan, Petra is renowned for its unique architecture carved entirely into rose-colored rock, earning it the nickname "The Rose City."

The thriving city was established by the Nabataeans, a powerful Arab people who exerted widespread influence across the region from the fourth century BC to the second century AD.

What distinguishes Petra from other archaeological sites is that its key structures—including royal tombs, monumental facades, temples, and the famous Treasury—were carved directly into sandstone mountains, reflecting remarkable engineering expertise.