The ancient city of Petra welcomed 36,423 visitors in the first two months of the current year, marking a 300-percent increase compared with the same period of 2021, the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) said Tuesday.

In the January-February period of last year, the figure stopped at 9,114 tourists. In a brief statistical bulletin, PDTRA indicated that the Red Rose City received 21,557 visitors in January this year, including 16,734 foreigners and 4,652 Jordanians. The January figure indicates a 285-percent rise over the same month of 2021.

In an interview with the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Chairman of PDTRA Board of Commissioners Suleiman Farajat said the authority had signed an agreement to provide an air taxi service in the ancient city, in addition to activating the Little Petra Heritage Village, among other moves to boost investments in the region.