Petra: Official statistics from the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) indicate an improvement in foreign visitor numbers in 2025, suggesting a gradual restoration of confidence in Petra as a global tourist destination after facing regional and international challenges in recent years.
According to Jordan News Agency, the total number of visitors to Petra in 2025 was approximately 582,550, which marks an increase of 27% from the 457,215 visitors recorded in 2024. The data reflect a varied trajectory for foreign visitors between 2019 and 2025. Foreign arrivals were about 1,000,179 in 2019, but they decreased to 271,760 in 2020 and further to 135,229 in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact.
Foreign tourism traffic gradually improved in 2022 and 2023, with 683,798 visitors in 2022 and 985,696 in 2023. However, there was a sharp decline in 2024 to 257,284 foreign visitors, a 74% drop due to regional developments. In 2025, the number of foreign visitors rose again to 373,752, a 45% increase from 2024, making up 64% of the total visitors to Petra for the year.
October was the month with the highest number of visitors in 2025, totaling 81,069, while December also showed a significant improvement with 53,383 visitors, a 95% increase compared to December 2024. These indicators suggest a gradual return of confidence in Petra and the early stages of a broader tourism recovery, aided by the return of multiple air routes to the region, particularly low-cost services.