New service tickets for Petra to improve visitor experience
As of January 1, 2010 new service tickets have been introduced for visitors to Petra, which offer them a range of services to help them enjoy their tour of this amazing ancient city. A tourist from Ireland, who was holidaying in Jordan, was the first person to purchase the new service ticket for the Petra Archaeological Park. The new service tickets came into effect at the beginning of the year as part of effort by the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) to improve services inside Petra, systemize use of these services and standardize prices.
The first ticket purchased is one of several new service tickets that were introduced in Petra on January 1, giving tourists an efficient way to purchase services. The service tickets target overnight and cruise tourists, as well as day visitors, entitling them to free access to brochures and maps, a horse ride from the gate to the Siq, scheduled guiding services for the main trail and entry to the museum, in addition to restrooms facilities.
“We are very excited about the new service tickets, which are part of a greater plan to improve the way services are offered and operated in Petra leading to a smoother and better tourist experience,” said PDTRA Chief Commissioner H.E. Nasser Shraideh. He added, “Not only will visitors to Petra benefit from these new service tickets, but they will also guarantee a consistent and sustainable livelihood for the local communities living around Petra who operate these services.”
The new service tickets are part of an aggressive plan being implemented by the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority to develop the Petra Archeological Park. The plan seeks to improve the quality of services available within the park and introduce new services and facilities in order to develop the tourism product offered and enrich the tourist experience at Petra. The plan will also significantly contribute to conserving and safeguarding this precious site, as well as improving the livelihoods of local communities.
Also introduced at the start of this year are new visitor experiences of guided tours and animal rides. The Ancient City Tour trail offers visitors a guided tour of Petra’s most famous monuments. The two other trails are add-on options to the main tour that take visitors to the Monastery and High Place of Sacrifice, enabling them to explore the history and culture of Petra through the eyes of a local guide. The guided trails are sold through a range of additional tickets that also promote various traditional transport options in the park, including camel rides and horse carriages, which are being made available for elderly and disabled tourists. The USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project II supported the PDTRA to package these new tourism products, which will enhance the way tourist services inside the ancient city are booked, operated and sold. |
