Tourists return to the wonders of Petra - in pictures

The Covid-19 pandemic turned Jordan's Rose City into a ghost town but visitors are now returning

A tourist poses for a photo while riding a camel before the site of the Treasury at the ruins of the ancient Nabatean city of Petra in southern Jordan on December 12, 2022. - After years in which the Covid pandemic turned the storied "Rose City" into a ghost town, Jordan tourism authorities confirm that Petra, famous for its stunning temples hewn out of the rose-pink cliff faces, is back in business and drew 900,000 visitors last year, close to the previous record of one million set in 2019. (Photo by Khalil MAZRAAWI / AFP)

After years in which the Covid pandemic turned the storied 'Rose City' into a ghost town, Jordan tourism authorities confirm that Petra is back in business.

The country received 4.6 million visitors in 2022 - almost four times the level from 2020 - earning $5.3 billion

Camel guide Hussien Bdoul, 35, says: "At the time of the coronavirus pandemic, we did not see anyone in Petra. Ninety per cent of people here work in tourism."

Petra, famous for its stunning temples hewn out of the rose-pink cliff faces, is a UN World Heritage site.

The ancient city was built in 312 BC as the capital of the ancient Arab kingdom of the Nabateans, which fell to the Romans in 106 BC. It remained unknown in the West until a Swiss traveller visited it in 1812.

Alia, a 16-year-old French tourist, views souvenirs being sold by a vendor at a stall in the ruins of the ancient Nabatean city of Petra.

About 1,700 people make a living from Petra as tour guides, trinket sellers or by taking visitors through the site on donkeys, horses, camels or electric buggies.

Suleiman Farajat, head of the Petra Development and Tourism Regional Authority, says the post-pandemic tourism comeback has exceeded all expectations.

The recovery was helped by official promotional campaigns in new overseas markets, low-cost airline flights and new hotel rooms.

Tourists tour the ruins of the ancient Nabatean city of Petra.

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