General Travel News
Room for improvement in Petra
July 8 - Despite progress made in Petra in the three years since being named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, tourism officials say there is still work to be done to improve the visitor experience in the ancient Nabataean city.
Visitor flow has risen "tremendously" since Petra was designated as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World on July 7, 2007, according to Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) Chief Commissioner Nasser Shraideh.
Tourists visiting the site jumped from 577,860 in 2007 to 802,866 in 2008, according to PDTRA figures. Although visitor numbers dipped to 728,387 in 2009, this year tourism flow to the World Heritage Site is on pace, with 461,983 tourists visiting the rose-red city through June.
One of the major developments in the last three years, according to Shraideh, was the establishment of the PDTRA in October 2009, which was created to oversee and develop the entire Petra region in order to transform it into a "world-class tourism destination".
Since its establishment, the authority has been working on several projects to improve services and facilities, enhance the visitor experience, as well as protect and conserve the Petra Archaeological Park, Shraideh said.
More General Travel News
Latest Travel News
Featured Sights To See
Residenz ( Residence Palace Museum)
Munich, Germany
The Residenz was the palace of the Wittlebachs. It was first the political and cultural center of the first Dukes, then the Electors (from 1623) and finally the Kings of Bavaria (1806 – 1918). The various rulers furnished and extended the palace’s rooms to suit their personal tastes. It is one of Europe’s finest Renaissance buildings and had to be almost completely rebuilt after being ...
Museum of Science & Industry
Chicago, United States
Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry is housed in the Palace of FIne Arts, built for the Columbian Exhibition. In the 1920s, after the Field Museum moved out, it was decided to convert the magnificent Neoclassical building into a museum dedicated to science and industry. The museum was bankrolled by Julius Rosenwald of retailer Sears Roebuck. It has evolved into one of the wo...
Spanish Steps
Rome, Italy
The famous Spanish Steps, the longest and widest staircase in all Europe, are located in the most exclusive part of modern Rome next to Piazza di Spagna taking its name from the Spanish Embassy that used to stand there. On the right is Keats’ House, a monument containing memoirs of John Keats and other romantic poets of those times including Byron and Shelley. At the top of the steps is the Fren...
Museum of Books
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Address: 94 Kabanbai Batyr Street, Almaty Phone: 62 22 13 A quaint little place for professors and researchers. Small building containing interesting manuscripts, scrolls, prints, ancient drawings and other written material, that give an insight into the cultural and historical development of the city. ...