Petra:The ancient city of Petra experienced a decrease in tourism activity in September, with 43,901 visitors recorded, an 8% decline from the 47,658 visitors in the same month last year.
According to Jordan News Agency, the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) noted that the decline occurred despite a "notable" improvement in visitor numbers during the second half of the month. This improvement coincided with the stabilization of air travel.
Chief Commissioner of the PDTRA, Adnan Sawa'ir, highlighted that the demand to visit Petra remained strong despite previous challenges to tourism. He emphasized the role of diverse tourism markets in boosting activity, noting that foreign tourists accounted for approximately half of the total visitors in September. The United States led the foreign visitor numbers with 3,803, followed by Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
In the first nine months of the current year, Petra welcomed 362,215 visitors, a 2.8% decrease from 372,779 in the same period last year. However, there was a notable increase in Jordanian visitors, rising by 26.6%, while Arab visitors also saw a slight increase. In contrast, foreign visitor numbers dropped by 17.8% compared to the previous year.
Sawa'ir stressed the importance of enhancing air connectivity and promoting Petra globally, as stable air traffic is crucial for the city's international tourism and local economy.