Jordan’s archaeological discoveries reach 100,000 with 15,000 registered sites

A worker employed by a pilot project run by the UN cultural agency UNESCO, restores a stone wall at an ancient church complex, in the small town of Rihab, some 70 kilometres north of the Jordanian capital Amman, on February 9, 2021. (File/AFP)

• Jordan’s tourism sector currently provides 55,000 employment opportunities

Jordan’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Makram Qeisi announced that the kingdom has uncovered a total of 100,000 archaeological sites, with 15,000 of them officially registered, Petra news agency reported on Sunday. 

The announcement was made during the inauguration of a workshop at the iHERITAGE exhibition for the ICT Mediterranean platform, which focused on UNESCO cultural heritage. The platform featured holographic representations of Petra, Jordanian folklore, and museums at the Petra visitor center.

Jordan’s tourism sector currently provides 55,000 employment opportunities and contributes 13 percent to the country’s gross domestic product. Plans are underway to further expand and modernize this sector in line with the country’s economic vision.

The exhibition marked the official launch of the website for Petra and other tourist destinations. The website offers a 3D tourism experience.