Minister visits Petra, highlights local investment amid tourist drop

By : JD

Jordan Daily – On the seventeenth anniversary of Petra being declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Makram Al-Qaisi visited the historic site to check on recent developments and preparations made by the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) for the tourist season.

During a tour of various construction sites and tourist facilities, PDTRA Chairman Dr. Fares Breizat briefed Minister Al-Qaisi on several local investment opportunities. These included modern hotel projects in the Wadi Musa area, which will add 1,400 new hotel rooms. Currently, the Petra region has 3,718 rooms.

The Ministry of Tourism stated that despite the severe impact on Petra’s tourism sector due to a significant drop in Western tourists amid the war on Gaza, which has led to declines of over 70% compared to 2023, local investors continue to invest. “They remain committed to the sector’s resilience and national interest of the Kingdom.”