Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
Located in the rugged mountains of southern Jordan, Petra is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world and was declared as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra is located 240 km south of Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and is the most famous site and tourist attraction in Jordan, visited by tourists worldwide.
Sustainability Commitment
Petra registered a number of visitors that shot 1.1 million in 2019, before the pandemic. Despite a downturn during the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of visitors rebounded to 905,000 in 2022. The momentum continued into 2023, with a record-breaking 1.2 million visitors.
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) conducted a Destination Assessment of Petra, Jordan, from May through August 2023. GSTC expert Assessors completed an assessment of the management of the destination with the GSTC Destination Criteria (GSTC-D), the global standard for sustainable destinations.
GSTC also held two significant training events in Petra last year, in collaboration with GSTC Training Partner Nastadeem with support from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The first was in May 2023 and was attended by 24 staff members from the DMO, the Petra Development & Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA), and the second was in September 2023 and was attended by 21 trainees from a diverse background in the tourism industry in Petra: hotels, tour operators, guides and local community organizations.
The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course aimed to equip participants with the essential knowledge and tools to implement sustainable tourism principles in their operations. The Authorized GSTC trainers who led the first course in Arab language were: Mr. Nabil Tarazi, Ms. Rawan Atallah, and Ms. Lina Al-Khaled from Nastadeem/EcoHotels.
This year, the inaugural Academy of Conservation and Care for the Environment (ACCE) 2024 will take place in Petra, Jordan, from the 18th of October to the 1st of November 2024. It will be a living lab for exploring and reframing the relationship between the historic and natural environment.
“The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) is proud to announce that Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, has become the first city in the Arab World to join the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), a landmark follow on step in our ongoing efforts to advance sustainable tourism. This milestone is a key component of Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision, which seeks to establish Jordan as a leading global tourism destination and a premier hub for the film industry”, says Eng. Hamzeh Al-Alayani, Deputy Chief Commissioner and Commissioner of the Petra Archaeological Park and Tourism.
Al-Alayani emphasized the significance of this move, stating, « Our commitment to sustainability is unwavering. We are dedicated to implementing the GSTC standards through a phased approach, ensuring the protection of our world’s natural and cultural heritage. » And added that “Going forward, PDTRA will be implementing initiatives that encompass extensive training, qualification programs, and awareness campaigns across various stakeholders in the tourism sector in Petra, ensuring that sustainable practices are integrated throughout. The PDTRA is also committed to embedding the GSTC standards within the government and private sectors, a critical step forward in our mission to enhance Petra’s standing as a model of sustainable tourism, aligning with international best practices and contributing to the long-term preservation of our treasured site.”
GSTC Welcomes Petra
“We welcome Petra as a member of GSTC and congratulate them on their commitment to sustainable tourism development at their prominent and remarkable heritage site,” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC. “We hope and expect them to benefit from the holistic approach of applying the GSTC Criteria to their management and their industry stakeholders.”
About Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA)
Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) is a governmental national institution that aims to develop the Petra region economically, socially and culturally and contribute to the development of the local community through the management of the region and the preservation and discover of urban heritage, develop the tourism process and provide proper investment environment to create sustainable development.
More information here: https://www.visitpetra.jo/
About GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are three sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators, and MICE Criteria for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.
The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for GSTC’s assurance role for Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services, but provides accreditation to those that do. The GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership, including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism.
Information for media and the press: www.gstcouncil.org/about/for-the-press/
Statements expressed in this announcement are presented for informational purposes only and should not be taken as an endorsement or recommendation by GSTC, unless clearly stated.
