Even as Dubai wows the US with an unparalleled marketing blitz, Jordan, a well established Middle Eastern tourism destination with the travelling American, has seen visitors from the States return.
While the centre of Amman was once a big draw for American tourists, the political turmoil of recent years had driven away Western tourists.
In the first 11 months of 2007, 166,000 American tourists came to Jordan, an increase of four per cent over the previous year, according to the country’s tourism ministry. While the numbers are not a watershed by any means, they nevertheless mark a turnaround. This is partly due to an aggressive campaign promoting the kingdom in the United States and Europe, and partly due to more Petra’s being chosen one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.