Normally bustling with thousands of visitors per day, the historic city of Petra stands eerily quiet as it waits for the pandemic to come to an end. The coronavirus pandemic has done what war did not — bring this Middle Eastern country's vital tourism industry to a dramatic halt, and with it, the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers.
Perspectives about reopening international travel
What is international travel going to look like in a post-COVID world? How are travel and tourism industries faring during this uncertain time? Iris Serbanescu, Director of Partnerships for TourRadar and Malia Asfour, Director of the North American Office for Visit Jordan sat down to discuss these questions and more in this engaging video.
Getting Ready to Book Jordan in a Post-COVID World
Omar Bani-Hani, JTBNA’s Marketing Manager, speaks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the current situation in Jordan, the country’s strategy to welcome visitors back to Jordan, how the country is improving tourism infrastructure, and most importantly, how Visit Jordan is working with and training travel advisors in this tourism lull.
Wadi Rum: The second most Instagrammed ecotourism attraction in the world
With its sunset-orange sands and sprawling canyons, Wadi Rum is one of Jordan's greatest treasures. Hashtagged 390,000 times (as of April 2020), it's no surprise that this one-of-a-kind destination is hailed as a “must-see” by Instagrammers everywhere.
A Complete Guide To Exploring the Amman Citadel, Jordan
“Falling in love with a place is not so different from falling in love with a person.” Read on to learn about one traveler’s existential experience in the Wadi Rum desert.
Life under lockdown: Jordan
After arriving in Jordan in January 2020 for a six-month study abroad program, this university student made the decision to remain in Jordan through the COVID-19 lockdown. Read this first-hand account of how the country faced the virus head-on.
'Jordan will wait for you': new video tells tourists not to rush back
Majestic Petra has been standing still in the face of time for over 2,000 years — and it is waiting for you now. Jordan is excited for you to return to see all its wonders. No need to rush back — we’ll be here when it’s safe to travel again!
Post-Coronavirus Travel Bucket List: The Arab World
Where is the first place you’re going to visit when lockdowns are lifted? We’re headed to Wadi Rum. A valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in the southern part of Jordan, it’s probably the closest you’ll ever get to camping on Mars.
Jordanian Recipes
Atayef (Middle Eastern pancakes)
Atayef are fluffy Middle Eastern pancakes, stuffed with mild cheese and nuts, and soaked in sugary rose syrup. Only made and served during the holy month of Ramadan — here’s the simplest way to make them at home!
Musakhan - Recipe By Beit Sitti
Learn how to make Musakhan, a delicious dish with chicken and pine nuts, with Beit Sitti in this quick and easy video. You only need 4 ingredients and some spices — meet us in the kitchen!
Virtual Experiences
Explore Petra from Home
The Petra Development & Tourism Region Authority and TimeLooper, the market leader in providing immersive AR and VR historical journeys announce the launch of an immersive 3D augmented reality exploration of Petra. By downloading the Petra Xplore app users can walk through Petra at scale, taking in the landscape and most iconic sites within the Nabatean caravan city. At points of interest users experience life-size 3D models, 360° photos, and narrated voice-over. This incredibly powerful journey is intended to both facilitate self-directed access to the UNESCO heritage site while it is closed but also to provide tour guides a new visualization tool that they can utilize in delivering virtual tours or field trips to cultural enthusiasts and school groups.
This experience is available to users at no cost via Petra’s Xplore app, available immediately in the Apple App Store and coming soon on Google Play.
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Read Testimonials From Travelers!
“Petra is one of the sites I’ve long waited to see. The kind of place feeding your adventurous mind... So when a friend of mine told me she’ll work in Amman for a few months, I did not hesitate long before taking the decision to pay her a little visit. She was living with wonderful housemates and together we took the exploration to Petra! What an adventure! We spent all day exploring this huge site, amazed by the Nabatean’s genius. Absolutely thrilling! Believe me, the Indiana Jones sleeping deep inside you will awake.” — Mélanie Poitoux, May 2020
“Fortunate enough to have visited Petra once, would love to come back and see more of this beautiful country 😍” — Victoria Leigh, May 2020
Have you been to Jordan and want to share about your experience or are you thinking of going to Jordan and want to know what people thought? Either way, visit our testimonials page to join the conversation!
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