So, ya wanna see Petra? Now is good…

               Met this morning with Dr. Emad, Director of Petra Archaeological Park (PAP) and Commissioner for Petra Development & Tourism Region Authority, Lt. Col. Moh’d Attal (CO, Tourism Police) and some members of PAP’s management team:

Rangers & TPO at Kiosk

               From Day 1 of this assignment (actually even before I left home), we’ve been asked to work with Supervisory Park Rangers and Tourism Police (TP). However, we rarely saw them working together (either last spring or this go-around). Today at 0600 local time “Operation Petra Storm” was initiated with PAP Rangers & TP Officers taking a joint/unified command venture: illegal vendor stands were dismantled and items seized. Last week’s visit by the Regional Authority (Governor) was part of a briefing tour and buy-in. UNESCO and other organizations have been troubled for some time about some of the issues here: proliferation of illegal & underage vendors and shops, impacts of animals on cultural resources, treatment of animals, etc. Today marked another visible step in plans to address those issues; following after having Fred Woehl (aka “Cowboy Fred”) several times working with the horse program (usually the 1^st impression visitors have of Petra proper inside the park).

donkey staging area - Lower Basin

               In addition, other activities adding to the busy week of PAP managers include: the beginning of a UNESCO mapping project (remember PAP is 164 sq. km./101 sq. mi.), continuing efforts/meetings developing a General Management Plan, upgrading the park’s uniform program, and Transportation Plan trip to UNESCO in Paris next month (all that tuckers me out, and makes me want to take a siesta - see below).

The Park Ranger and TP Officers are busy with visitor services and resource management issues, and this is a very good time to plan your visit to Jordan’s park and nature reserves. Visitation is way down from previous years due to regional unrest, but Jordan is relatively safe & secure. Here is hoping that it stays that way, and Jordan has a successful eco & heritage tourism future (inshallah)…


http://www.thebrooke.org/support-us/responsible-tourism