Petra, May 19 (Petra) — The Petra Development and Tourism Region
Authority is moving to strengthen community partnerships and expand
cooperation with local institutions as part of broader efforts to
support tourism development, infrastructure upgrades, and service
improvements across the Petra region.

Chairman of the authority Adnan Sawa’ir said community engagement
remains central to development plans aimed at improving tourism
services and supporting sustainable economic growth in Petra.

Sawa’ir made the remarks during a meeting with local community
representatives and academics in the Petra district attended by
Deputy Chairman Shaker Adwan.

He said the authority continues to prioritize direct communication
with local communities and the inclusion of public feedback in
developmental and tourism-related initiatives.

According to Sawa’ir, Petra residents play a key role in protecting
the archaeological site and strengthening its global tourism
position.

He also stressed the importance of coordination between the
authority, local communities, and academic and tourism institutions
to address development and service-sector challenges in the region.

The chairman said the authority is working to expand the
participation of youth and women in tourism and development programs.

He added that the authority recently signed a cooperation agreement
with the Ministry of Environment aimed at supporting environmental
and development initiatives, including the expansion of public parks
and green spaces.

Sawa’ir also announced that the authority secured JD2 million in
financial support for infrastructure and service upgrades in the
Daraa area.

He highlighted plans to further develop Petra College for Tourism and
Archaeology through enhanced academic and training programs aligned
with labor market needs in tourism and heritage sectors.

The authority is also focusing on practical training and partnerships
with tourism-sector institutions to strengthen professional
qualifications and support the college’s international presence, he
added.

Local community representative Mohammad Abbas Al-Nawafleh emphasized
the importance of strengthening cooperation between the authority and
local communities to support development efforts and address shared
challenges.

Discussions during the meeting covered issues related to
archaeological site protection, tourism sector regulation, digital
transformation initiatives, and plans to integrate hotel reservation
systems into a unified digital platform aimed at improving tourism
services and visitor experiences in Petra.

//Petra// RZ