‘Wadi Rum sees increase in tourist numbers’

AMMAN — The number of visitors to Wadi Rum rose to 80,661 during the first-half of this year, compared to 36,855 in the same period last year, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority’s Spokesperson Abdel Muhdi Qatamin said that the increase came as a result of the authority’s efforts to develop the Wadi Rum region, 300km south of Amman, by launching several projects to promote foreign and domestic tourism.

Among the projects are the reintroduction of the Nubian Ibex, with the support of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, by implementing a study on the region’s grazing capacity and the natural habitat of the animal.