Petra – The historic site of Petra welcomed 668,728 foreign tourists in 2018, up 42% from 2017, the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) reported this Wednesday (2). The ruins of the city erected by the Nabataeans in antiquity are the best-known tourist site in Jordan. The information was made public by the Jordanian government’s news outlet.
The site saw 826,993 visitors, up 33% from 2017. Besides the foreigners, the locality welcomed 136,261 tourists from Jordan and other Arab countries. It was one of the best years ever for tourism in the Pink City, as Petra is known for the stones with which the local landmarks were built.
PDTRA deputy chief commissioner Suleiman Farajat noted that the site can accommodate over 1 million tourists per year. He expects 2019 to be the year of tourism “par excellence,” the Jordanian news outlet reported.
The Nabataeans, originally from the Arabian Peninsula, settled in the area around the year 6 BC, where they carved stone into palaces. Set along the route of ancient caravans, the city thrived as a trade hub for centuries. Pictured at the top of this article is the Treasure, one of Petra’s best-known landmarks.
In the 2nd century AD, Petra was conquered by the Roman Empire. It was later made part of the Byzantine Empire, which succeeded the Eastern Roman Empire. Due to its position at the intersection of different trade routes and its having been occupied by different peoples, the city boasts a very eclectic architecture. The region is currently inhabited by Bedouins.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
