Who could have predicted that dramatic tombs and carved temple facades that have survived since prehistoric times would be in need of the help of responsible travelers like you? Each year hundreds of thousands of tourists flood to Petra in the Middle Eastern nation of Jordan, making tourism one of the greatest challenges to the conservation of this cultural monument.
The ancient city of Petra was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985 for its “exceptional universal value…which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity.” Yet heavy tourism has caused erosion of its natural sandstone rock walls, damage to its delicate plant life, and the need for expensive, ongoing restoration work.
What can you do? Travel responsibly, tell others to do the same, and learn which tourist activities are harming to sites like Petra.
Uncontrolled tourism, and certain tourist activities in particular, present risks to Petra, and other archeological sites nearby. In Petra as well as all cherished sites, it is important to consider how tourist activities affect the area over the long term. Use these tips to help preserve and protect sites like Petra:
- Leave No Trace: According to the park managers at Petra, one of the major daily challenges to the site is garbage – and cigarette butts in particular – left behind by visitors. By properly disposing of your trash, you will help the park save resources and ensure that the site’s remarkable vistas are uncluttered for others.
- Think of the Big Picture: While it is important to support the local economy, certain tourist activities and souvenirs can damage a fragile World Heritage site. If a popular tourist activity seems to affect a site’s longevity, or if a souvenir is a piece of the site itself, it is best to avoid participating and encouraging detrimental behavior.
- Enjoy the View from Ground Level: It has not yet been determined what effects helicopters vibrations are having on Petra’s sandstone. But common sense tells us that helicopters generate noise pollution and leave behind an environmental footprint due to carbon emissions.
- Keep your Feet Firmly on the Ground: Although it might be tempting to get up close and personal with the structures carved into Petra’s rock face, climbing on the walls and in the tombs can cause severe erosion.
What can be done by the concerned global community when the biggest threat to tourist treasures is tourism itself? According to the Petra National Trust, the key is to encourage others to “treat Petra like it is your own home. Don’t drop litter, don’t climb on the monuments, and please don’t graffiti.”
What can you do, as an individual, right now? Sign the Responsible Travel Pledge or send us your story of traveling responsibly to worldheritage@unfoundation.org. Share your tips and tell others how easy it is to protect our world's most precious places.
The Friends of World Heritage founding partners recently teamed up with Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and other partners to help develop sustainable tourism solutions for Petra and Jordan’s other important cultural and natural sites. To learn more, click here.
