The recent surge in tourist numbers to Jordan has led to a significant upswing in visits to local archaeological sites, as stated by the Ministry of Tourism.
Recent data released by the Ministry of Tourism revealed that Petra, one of Jordan’s most popular sites and voted among the New 7 Wonders of the World, recorded 684 000 visitors up until the end of June 2023, a substantial increase compared to 345 000 visitors the previous year.
The first half of 2023 saw the footfall at half of Jordan’s archaeological sites double when compared to the same period in the preceding year. The ministry report disclosed that Mount Nebo received a total of 387 000 tourists, up from 167 000 visitors last year.
In a conversation with The Jordan Times, Khaldoun Lozi, a Jordanian tourism agent, conveyed, “The most frequented destinations in Jordan include Petra, Wadi Rum, Jerash, and the Baptism Site.”
Lozi pointed out that this year, there has been a noticeable rise in the interest of Jordanian expatriates to explore various areas and sites in Jordan, instead of confining themselves to their hometowns.
Mahmoud Taha, a Jordanian expat, shared with The Jordan Times that he explored Petra and Wadi Rum for the first time this year and is already planning to revisit next year with friends. “Everyone is heading to visit Petra, Aqaba, Wadi Rum. So, I decided that this year I would also act as a tourist in my homeland,” he stated.