ETN: Petra is a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of the World Campaign, first launched in 2000, attracting to date more than 19 million voters from around the globe. Experts have considered 77 sites and drawn up a shortlist of 21 finalists, which includes, of course, this breathtaking rock-cut formation.

Petra stands as one of the most glorious and mysterious archaeological sites on earth. The so-called أ¢â‚¬إ“lost red-rose

Today, it is the Hashemite Kingdom's leading tourist magnet which has often served as a key indicator of the pace of tourist activity in the country. Whether on leisure or business, visitors coming to Jordan make certain they stop at the stone-carved Nabataean site.

Malek Amarat, head of Petra's Tourism Department, said the site has witnessed a steady flow of tourists since 2005. أ¢â‚¬إ“Tourist traffic has remained steady from that year unlike previous years when the tourist numbers fell during the low season between April until October,أ¢â‚¬آ‌ said Amarat.

Jordanأ¢â‚¬â„¢s ongoing marketing efforts abroad have paid-off in sustaining tourist traffic to the area.  Various factors such as improved infrastructure and tourist facilities both within the ancient site and the Petra region have helped boost visitor numbers including their length of stay. This includes upgrading and increasing the number of public gardens, sun-protected rest benches, pedestrian pathways as well as public health facilities and utilities and improved supervision by tourist police.
 
In 2005, more than the expected 197,000 visitors came to the ancient city of Petra during the first six months of the year. Officials said tourist traffic to Petra has increased by 25 percent compared to the same period the year previous, generating JD3 million in revenues for the industry.

Only 110 kilometers north of Aqaba and Wadi rum and 50 kilometers away from another upcoming Gulf tourist spot of Aqaba, Petra becomes a part of a triad of attractions. Together with Aqaba and Wadi Rum, Petra make up the Golden Triangle developed by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority or ASEZA which is governed by six ministerial-level commissioners (each responsible for a major area of regulatory, operational or promotional activity and whose legislations, regulations and board instructions are made public with the addition of the Dead Sea as the worldأ¢â‚¬â„¢s largest natural spa, more rooms and conference venues).

Like Jordan which has popular tourist sites Petra, Aqaba and the Wadi Rum, Eilat has its own triangle of desert adventure on the Megev, the Red Sea and the Wadi Araba and Egypt has Sharm el Sheikh, St. Catherineأ¢â‚¬â„¢s and the desert adventures. The three triads in these countries form the Golden Triangle of destinations in the area. The ministry of tourism in the triad and the ministers on the Golden Triangle zone do their utmost best to work together and stimulate tourism exchange.

Through the Golden Triangle of Wadi Rum-Petra-Aqaba, activities such as diving, golfing, warm water tourism activities are promoted as well as the facilities and resorts offering them.

The Petra-Taybet Zaman Hotel & Resort Village is one of the most attractive accommodations in Jordan. Taybet-Zaman provides the ideal place for visitors who wish to explore Petra. It also offers modern recreational facilities and entertainment in authentic late 19th century Jordanian Village.  The Bedouinأ¢â‚¬â„¢s traditional hospitality and food are main features of the tribal experience at the Petra-Taybet Zaman Village. The exotic, centuries-old, villageأ¢â‚¬â€œtype property has 105 guest rooms and 101 guest houses (three of which have handicapped facilities).

Meanwhile, Egypt contends it should be automatically on the list and the committee should not even think twice about it making the list. Dr. Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities said the Giza Pyramids should, no doubt, be on the shortlist as they have been in the past - on the Ancient Wonders of the World dossier.

He explained that the New 7 Wonders Panel of Experts made up of leading international architects is a enterprising tourist firm that lacks antiquities background. "A tourist company should not choose the seven wonders through the public. The 7 Wonders of the World should be chosen by a cultural institution and a well-selected, elite group of people, not the average man in the street; definitely, not the 100 people choosing online because the public does not  know better," he said.

Hawass added he cannot allow the same company list the pyramids on this current 21 finalist race  as "...the Giza pyramids should be out of competition; they are the only ones that exist to this day. They cannot put the pyramids together with the rest of the other candidate Wonders," firmly said Hawass in defense of the monuments of which he is the custodian.