TOURISM

Tourism is of vital importance to the national economy of Jordan and forms its largest export sector.  Jordan is a destination with outstanding archaeological, cultural, and natural heritage that attracts many visitors.  Jordan’s National Tourism Strategy 2004-2010 aims to double the tourism economy.

Petra being the “jewel in the crown” will attract increasing numbers of regional and international visitors. The stated mission of the National Tourism Strategy is to “develop a sustainable tourism economy through partnership of government, the private sector, and civil society to expand employment, entrepreneurial opportunity, social benefits, industry profits, and state revenue.”  The Petra National Trust will work with the government to promote a consistently high standard of tourism services and facilities, and to maintain a rational balance between the need for new tourism facilities and the dictates of a delicate and highly fragile archaeological and natural environment.

In fulfilling its mission the Petra National Trust in co-ordination with the Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities (MoTA) will continue to undertake training projects to enhance the capacity of site management staff of the Petra Archaeological Park (PAP) to meet the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy.

The inscription of Petra, in 1985 on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and later in 1999 and again in 2002 on the World Monuments Watchlist of the 100 Most Endangered Sites, renders it incumbent upon Jordan to preserve and protect this unique yet highly endangered site.

Tourism Project listing:
Click on the links below to read about each project

Signs Project (1999-2000)

Click here to read about the Field Guide to the Plants & Animals of Petra project, which aims at promoting Petra as an eco-tourism destination

Virtual Tour DVD of Petra (2005)
In its efforts to continuously raise awareness and preserve the World Heritage Site of Petra, PNT produced the Petra Virtual Tour DVD in collaboration with Phoenix Data Systems.  The DVD allows viewers to manoeuvre their way around the sandstone city and explore every nook and cranny of Petra’s majestic monuments through a 360-degree filed of view.  The Petra Virtual Tour DVD includes over 650 fully interactive photographs, an extensive glossary, interesting descriptions of the monuments, still photographs, video clips, and a satellite map of the area.

Click here to view more details of the DVD and how you can purchase a copy

** The Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan (ADAJ) publications are currently not available online but can be accessed at the Department of Antiquities (DoA),  Amman.