Petra records the highest entry to the archaeological site in its history

AL-Anbat- Majdoleen Sarrar

 The number of visitors to the city of Petra increased, during the first quarter of this year, by 35% compared to the same period in 2019, According to the head of the Petra Tourism Development Authority, Dr. Suleiman Al-Farajat.

Al-Farajat said that the number of visitors to Petra for the first quarter of this year is the highest in the history of tourism in Petra, where 324,350 tourists entered the archaeological site, including 292,350 foreign tourists, an increase of 35% over the same period of 2019, where the total number of visitors in the first quarter of that year was 239,975 tourists.

Al-Farajat stressed that the month of March was a record month for the first time, as 143,962 visitors entered the archaeological site this month, including 131,116 foreigners, or 91%.

According to Al-Farajat, American citizenship ranked first, with 23,746 Americans visiting Petra this month, followed by 16,108 Italians, 13,926 French and 13,565 Germans.

Al-Farajat said that the increase in numbers means that communities benefit more directly from tourism income, and the percentage of direct benefit increases in Wadi Musa, um Sayhoun and Bayda.

Al-Faraj said that increasing numbers meant increasing communities' direct access to tourist income, and the direct utilization rate in the Moses Um Sahoun Valley and White.

Al-Farajat indicated that the authority will focus on expanding the area of benefit from tourism and upgrading the level of services provided to tourists.

Al-Farajat stressed that the increase comes in light of the follow-up by His Majesty King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Al Hussein on the tourism file in Jordan and Petra in particular.