While the Sultanate of Oman dominates the tourism landscape on the Arabian Sea and Sea of Oman with its unique mountain terrains, pristine beaches, and historical forts and castles, Jordan has similar dominance, led by the ancient and one of the old cities of the world, Petra, and the waters of the Dead Sea.
For any foreign visitor, the ancient Nabataean city of Petra is the first impression of Jordan.
Petra is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges. It is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites, where ancient Eastern traditions blend with Hellenistic architecture.
According to the local tourism authority of Petra, there has been increasing of 153 percent in the number of tourists visiting Petra in August 2022, compared to the same period last year.
The statistics said that 56,182 tourists in Petra arrived during this period, of which 14,714 were Jordanian and Arab visitors.
Over 3.6 million tourists visited Jordan during the first nine months of 2022, the country's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef al Fayez has said in a statement.
The national tourism strategy set the goal of hosting 3.4 million tourists during the year 2022.
The revenues of three to five-star hotels in the Sultanate also increased by 106.9 percent to RO108,334,000 until the end of August 2022, compared to the same period in 2021.
The number of hotel guests in 3-5 stars increased by 34.2 percent until the end of August 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, while the occupancy rate recorded a growth of 22.4 percent until the end of last August to reach 42.5 percent, compared to 34.7 percent during the period in 2021.
In 2019, Petra witnessed the highest monthly number of visitors in the history of tourism to the site, recording 66,437 visitors of all nationalities in July.
Apart from Petra, Jordan offers other attractions, including taking a bath in the waters of the Red Sea and horse riding.
According to historians, Jordan was founded by King Abdullah I after World War I. It was ruled by his grandson, the late King Hussein, for 46 years until his death in 1999, when his son King Abdullah II assumed the throne. Jordan today enjoys a remarkable measure of peace, stability, and economic growth.
The natural wonder of the Dead Sea is perfect for tourism and fun in the sun with the family. With its mix of beach living and religious history, you can soak up the sun while Biblical scholars can get their daily dose of religious history.
The leading attraction at the Dead Sea is the warm, soothing, super salty water itself – some ten times saltier than seawater and rich in chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromine, and several others.
Among others, this summer street market in Jabal Amman is open on Fridays and includes stalls selling local wares, pop-up cafes, street food, and live performances from local bands and musicians.
Jordan Heritage Revival Company (JHRC) was established in 2010 with the objective of developing the tourism sector in Jordan by creating authentic, engaging, and entertaining experiences to enrich the experience of tourists and to bring the ancient civilizations that once populated Jordanian soil to life.
JHRC was founded by King Abdullah II Fund for Development, in line with the Royal vision of reviving Jordanian history and empowering local communities and veterans through providing opportunities for active participation in development projects.
The Jordan Trail is a long-distance hiking trail in Jordan connecting the length of Jordan from Um Qais in the north to Aqaba in the south. Offering 40 days of hiking over more than 675 kilometres of trail and travelling through 75 villages and towns on its way.
With regular flights by Oman Air and Jordan Aviation, Amman, the capital of Jordan, has regularly been visited by citizens and residents of the Sultanate of Oman.
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