Petra welcomed more than half a million visitors since January — PDTRA chief

AMMAN — The rose-red city of Petra has welcomed more than half a million visitors since the beginning of this year, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) Suleiman Farajat said on Sunday. 

Farajat revealed that approximately 502,000 people visited Petra since January, adding that the number could reach 700,000 by the middle of the year. 

In April, Petra welcomed 146,687 visitors, including 126,373 foreigners, 3,356 non-Jordanian Arab nationals and 14,052 Jordanians, marking an increase of 137 per cent compared with the same period last year, and an increase of 6 per cent compared with the corresponding month in 2019, he said, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

The Petra Rose Nights Festival, showcasing a lineup of Arab and international artists, such as renowned singer Mohamed Abdo, is scheduled for later this month.