The number of tourists who visited Petra in 2017 increased "considerably" compared to the previous year, the Jordan Times reported Sunday (November 12th).
According to Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) president Mohammad Nawafleh, 521,000 visitors have entered Petra so far this year, compared to 461,000 during all of 2016.
This number is expected to reach 650,000 by the end of 2017, he said, adding that in October, the average number of visitors per day reached 1,800.
"The number of tourists visiting the ancient city until November has recorded a promising increase towards the end of the year, considering that November and December are part of the high season," Nawafleh said.
This year’s rise comes after a few years of lower turnout due to the regional turmoil that began in 2011, he said, noting that a number of hotels that closed as a result of the low turnout in the past few years will reopen next year.
