Jordanians flock to Aqaba, Petra, Wadi Rum during eid

AMMAN — Tens of thousands of Jordanians have visited the “Golden Triangle”, consisting of Aqaba, Petra and Wadi Rum, during Eid Al Adha holiday, officials said on Monday.

In Aqaba, Jordan’s port city, 90,000 visitors entered the city, said Sharhabeel Madi, a commissioner at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA).

The hotel’s occupancy rose to over 80 per cent during Eid Al Adha, the Muslim feast marking the end of the pilgrimage season, according to Madi, who added that some hotels recorded higher occupancy rates.

Visitors listed the beginning of the sales season in the city, the various festivals and bazaars organised by ASEZA as among  the reasons for choosing the port city, 330km south of Amman, the commissioner said.

During the holiday, folkloric bands performed at market places and shopping malls, Madi said, adding that the feast ran smoothly thanks to the “high level” of preparedness.

“One of the concerts by a Jordanian singer was attended by around 3,000 spectators, some of whom even had to sit on the pavements,” Madi said, adding that the authority’s teams worked round-the-clock to ensure a clean and organised environment for visitors. 

He commended the coordination between the authority’s divisions, the security agencies and the private sector.

In Wadi Rum, 300km south of Amman, ASEZA organised several activities for families and children to enjoy their stay in the desert valley during the holiday.

The desert witnessed a “large” turnout of visitors, who stayed at camps and enjoyed activities such as camel rides, jeep tours, ballooning and quad-bikes trips. 

Wadi Rum was mentioned in Greek and Roman ancient history accounts, and described by Lawrence of Arabia as “vast, echoing and godlike”.

It has provided the scenery for several Hollywood films, including “Lawrence of Arabia” and “The Martian”.     

In Petra, 235km south of Amman, the number of Jordanian and non-Jordanian visitors rose considerably during the vacation, The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority  President Mohammad Nawafleh told The Jordan Times on Monday.

Some 9, 389 tourists entered “the rose-red city” from Thursday morning until Monday evening, Nawafleh said.

He noted that Petra’s hotels are already fully booked for October, for the first time since 2010, adding that the current tourism season is promising.