PDTRA tightens belt in response to domestic tourism disruption

AMMAN — The board of commissioners of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) on Tuesday made a set of decisions aimed at cutting the authority’s capital and operations expenditures.

The decisions, a response to the disruption of inbound tourism, included the suspension of new tenders, as well as those under implementation, mainly supplies, works, technical services, water and sanitation, as well as cleaning the archaeological reserve, to be resumed once the PDTRA’s financial situation improves, according to PDTRA's Chief Commissioner Suleiman Farajat.

He added that the measures also halted all construction works related to retaining walls and regular maintenance work, as well as all new land and real estate acquisitions, in addition to defer the implementation of court rulings related to compensation for expropriations, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Street lights will be switched off in half to cut energy bills, he added, noting that the board has decided to suspend travel allowances, overtime and other incentives for employees, hospitality expenses for visitors of the authority, as well as aid and donations offered by the authority.

Meanwhile, the PDTRA also on Tuesday announced that its work will be suspended for two days as of Wednesday, as about 10 COVID-19 infections were reported among the authority’s staff members.