(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Petra, November 4 (Petra) - The ancient city of Petra recorded a "significant" increase in visitors last month, reaching 81,046, marking a 71% rise, compared to the same month last year.
Out of this figure, 49,910 were foreign visitors, representing a 99% increase, according to a report by the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA).
The report stated the growth in visitor numbers reflects the "accelerating pace of tourism recovery and restoration of momentum after the regional and global challenges the sector faced in recent years."
The report added that this "remarkable" growth was due to the "improved" regional situation following cessation of hostilities in Gaza, which restored confidence in regional and international travel markets.
The report added that this regional situation boosted interest in visiting the Kingdom, and Petra in particular, as a "safe and globally recognized" destination offering a comprehensive tourist experience that combines "exceptional" history, nature, and service.
The report indicated that foreign visitors constituted the "largest" percentage of total tourists at 62% (49,910 visitors).
The number of visitors participating in "Our Jordan is Paradise" program reached 16,795, while 3,158 were Arab visitors, adding that 2,446 students visited the ancient city and 1,406 tourists were residents of the Kingdom.
Statistics showed an 82% increase in Arab tourists, while the average daily increase in visitor numbers reached 39%.
The report referred to a 19% increase in the number of extended visit tickets, indicating a "growing" desire among tourists to spend more time in the Rose City.
Friday, October 24, recorded the highest number of visitors during the month at 4,957 tourists.
The United States topped the list of foreign countries visiting Petra at 6,726 visitors, followed by the United Kingdom at 4,492, then France at 4,253, Russia at 3,483, and Germany at 2,944 visitors.
The Petra Museum welcomed 16,925 visitors, while electric-powered vehicles completed 5,421 trips to the city's Treasury and various high areas, indicating a "growing" demand for the PDTRA's environmentally friendly services.
In a statement, Dr. Fares Breizat, PDTRA Chairman, affirmed that these results represent a "pivotal" turning point in Petra's tourist performance.
Breizat stated the "promising" return of visitors confirms Petra's continued status as "a global symbol of tourism and human heritage, motivating the PDTRA to build upon these figures to achieve additional growth and sustainability."
He noted the increased visitor numbers are already having a "positive" impact on local sectors and service providers, including hotels, most of which have resumed operations, tour guides, souvenir shops, bazaars, Horse and Camel Association, and other service providers, as well as the commercial sector in the region.
Breizat added that PDTRA is working within a "comprehensive strategic" vision based on developing infrastructure, improving the quality of tourist services, and enhancing resource sustainability to accommodate the anticipated increase in visitor numbers in the coming period.

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