Jordan hopes Petra win will double tourists, boost economy
Jordan expects the choice of its centuries-old Petra ruins among the
seven "new" world wonders to double the number of tourists to the site
and boost its economy, said an official last Sunday.
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Jordanians rejoice the elections of the Nabatean-built ancient
city of Petra, carved in red-rose mountains, as one of the new
Seven Wonders of the World in Amman, Jordan, early Sunday, July
8, 2007. |
"The inclusion of Petra in the list of the new seven wonders of the
world gives an indication that more tourists are going to visit Jordan
and the city," said Faruq Hadidi, the secretary general of Jordan's
tourism ministry.
This was "expected to increase tourism revenue, market the kingdom
and enhance the national economy," Hadidi told AFP.
"The result reflected the importance of the red-rose city as a
cultural, tourist and archaeological site," he said, adding around
400,000 people visit Petra each year. "We expect the figure to double."
The ruins of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are located 200
kilometres (125 miles) south of the Jordanian capital Amman.
Petra was selected along with six other sites by around 100 million
people in a worldwide Internet and telephone vote, the results of which
were announced in a televised ceremony in Portugal last Saturday night.
Following the announcement, thousands of Jordanians cheered, waved
flags, set fire works and broke into traditional dance in Amman and
Petra.
Petra comprises stunning temples and tombs carved in rock.
It was the capital of Arab Nabataean nomads, who settled in the area
more than 2000 years ago, turning it into a key junction for the silk,
spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern
Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.
A flurry of advertisements proclaiming "Vote for Petra, world
heritage" flooded cell phones, radio, television and newspapers in final
days of national campaign to encourage people to pick the ancient city
as one of the new seven wonders of the world in a massive online poll.
About 2 million of Jordan's estimated 6 million people had already
voted for Petra by cell phone text messages or on the Internet, before
last Saturday.
"Petra's nomination to this international competition is an
appreciation of this grand historic and cultural site, and shall place
the rose-red city as a well deserved spot on the international tourism
and heritage map, among other wonders of the world," said Jordanian
Tourism Minister Osama al-Dabbas.
Petra, was among the top 10 contenders for the "New Seven Wonders of
the World," an online contest launched by the Switzerland-based
NewOpenWorld Foundation - a group which aims to promote cultural
diversity by supporting, preserving and restoring monuments.
Twenty sites around the globe vyed to be declared the new wonders of
the world in the popular online contest. Contest organizers say more
than 50 million votes were cast, and the top seven winners were
announced on Saturday in Lisbon, Portugal.
Petra - most recently popularized by the movie "Indiana Jones and the
Last Crusade" - is known for its dramatic tombs and temple facades,
including one that served as a church during Byzantine times. The city's
inhabitants, Nabataean Arab nomads, carved the structures into the soft
sandstone some 2,000 years ago.
The rose-red rock city was forgotten for centuries until Swiss
explorer Johann Ludwig Burchhardt, disguised as a Bedouin nomad, went
into the city to rediscover it in 1812. The ancient city was hidden
behind an almost impenetrable barrier of rugged mountains.
A "Miss Petra" was even crowned before the final result was announced
- 17-year-old Jumana al-Daaja, who was picked among 30 contestants.
"I voted for Petra because it's a world treasure and everyone should
feel that way about it," said 11-year-old Farah Jilani, as she stood in
line at one of the kiosks to cast her ballot.
Latin Americans and Asians were the most enthusiastic voters in the
final round of 20 candidates for the world's top architectural marvels,
but people from every country in the world have voted by Internet or
phone, according to the organizers.
AP
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