Friday, April 4, 2008
Friday, August 3, 2007
Survey reveals less than half of Jordanians use mobile phones
By Paul Tate
AMMAN — Far fewer Jordanians use mobile phones than previously estimated, according to a recent Arab Advisors Group survey.
The study, conducted by the Amman-based research and consultancy company, reveals that less than half the population use cellular phones.
“Multiple line use by the same individuals and the presence of expatriates outside official population figures, set Jordan’s Effective Mobile Penetration Rate at around 48 per cent,” the survey says.
This figure is 26 percentage points lower than the 74.2 per cent penetration rate given by mobile operators at the end of 2006, based on the number of lines (4.15 million) divided by the population.
The Arab Advisors’ survey employs what the company describes as the “Effective Mobile Penetration” measure in order to gain a “more accurate analysis of cellular markets”.
According to Jawad Abbasi, the company’s founder and general manager, the survey takes into account the growing trend of individuals owning multiple lines and estimates the population, including expatriates and migrant workers, to be half a million more than official statistics.
“The Effective Mobile Penetration Rate considers the percentage of individuals with one or more mobile lines and is calculated by dividing the number of the estimated individual mobile users [and not mobile lines] by the estimated actual population figure [including expatriates and migrant workers],” he said in a press statement.
“Based on the survey findings, the ratio of the number of lines to the number of mobile users is 1:4. Applying this ratio to the reported total number of mobile lines, the actual number of individual mobile subscribers in Jordan was estimated at 2.9 million subscribers by end of 2006,” he added.
The survey says the trend of having more than one line is mainly driven by the desire of individuals to capitalise on the different plans, offers and promotions of the operators. A total of 28.5 per cent of cellular users have two lines while 5.7 per cent have three lines.
Just over 58 per cent of respondents who have more than one mobile line state cost saving as the reason.
“On the individual level most respondents own one mobile line: 63.5 per cent of respondents own a single line while 36.5 per cent of respondents own more than one mobile line,” the survey finds.
The Jordan Cellular Users Survey 2007 was conducted through interviews with 509 respondents from different households in Amman, Irbid and Zarqa. The survey has an error margin of less than 6 per cent.
AMMAN — Far fewer Jordanians use mobile phones than previously estimated, according to a recent Arab Advisors Group survey.
The study, conducted by the Amman-based research and consultancy company, reveals that less than half the population use cellular phones.
“Multiple line use by the same individuals and the presence of expatriates outside official population figures, set Jordan’s Effective Mobile Penetration Rate at around 48 per cent,” the survey says.
This figure is 26 percentage points lower than the 74.2 per cent penetration rate given by mobile operators at the end of 2006, based on the number of lines (4.15 million) divided by the population.
The Arab Advisors’ survey employs what the company describes as the “Effective Mobile Penetration” measure in order to gain a “more accurate analysis of cellular markets”.
According to Jawad Abbasi, the company’s founder and general manager, the survey takes into account the growing trend of individuals owning multiple lines and estimates the population, including expatriates and migrant workers, to be half a million more than official statistics.
“The Effective Mobile Penetration Rate considers the percentage of individuals with one or more mobile lines and is calculated by dividing the number of the estimated individual mobile users [and not mobile lines] by the estimated actual population figure [including expatriates and migrant workers],” he said in a press statement.
“Based on the survey findings, the ratio of the number of lines to the number of mobile users is 1:4. Applying this ratio to the reported total number of mobile lines, the actual number of individual mobile subscribers in Jordan was estimated at 2.9 million subscribers by end of 2006,” he added.
The survey says the trend of having more than one line is mainly driven by the desire of individuals to capitalise on the different plans, offers and promotions of the operators. A total of 28.5 per cent of cellular users have two lines while 5.7 per cent have three lines.
Just over 58 per cent of respondents who have more than one mobile line state cost saving as the reason.
“On the individual level most respondents own one mobile line: 63.5 per cent of respondents own a single line while 36.5 per cent of respondents own more than one mobile line,” the survey finds.
The Jordan Cellular Users Survey 2007 was conducted through interviews with 509 respondents from different households in Amman, Irbid and Zarqa. The survey has an error margin of less than 6 per cent.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Iraqi exiles celebrate Asian Cup victory
Iraqis in Amman celebrate their team's first Asian Cup triumph (Photo by Nader Daoud)
By Paul Tate
AMMAN — Thousands of Iraqis poured onto the capital’s streets last night to celebrate their national team’s victory in the Asian Cup final.
However, the festivities were marred by several incidents of violence when security forces armed with wooden batons broke up large gathernigs of cheering fans.
In Gardens Street traffic came to a virtual standstill for hours after the match as hundreds of Iraqi exiles packed into cars beeped their horns and waved national flags in celebration at their squad’s historic 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.
“The team has proved what the human spirit is capable of against all the odds,” said Iraqi engineer Dafar Bashar, currently in Jordan visiting his daughter who is studying at the Amman Ahliyyah Private University.
Jordan is host to some 750,000 Iraqis, who over the past four years have sought refuge from the daily violence racking their country.
“This victory disproves the myth that Iraq is divided along sectarian lines. If only the government could unite Iraqis like this we would be in a much better situation,” added Bashar.
Iraq’s team, which includes a mixture of Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, reached the final after knocking out tournament favourites Australia and South Korea in Wednesday’s semifinal.
Hassan, an Iraqi student, who fled to Jordan with his family two years ago, said the victory was a rare moment of happiness in their lives.
“Today we are all Iraqis, we are all Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. We are one people struggling to be free,” he said, adding that his joy was tempered by feelings of sadness at the everyday plight of poor Iraqis both inside and outside his country.
Since the US-led invasion of March 2003, over two million people have fled Iraq, mostly to Jordan and Syria. Millions more are internally displaced.
In one incident, celebrations were marred as security forces broke up a peaceful gathering of hundreds of cheering Iraqis outside a furniture store in the centre of West Amman.
Police officers kicked and beat the crowd with wooden batons as people panicked to flee to saftey. Some youths were taken away by intelligence officers in unmarked cars. Security forces then proceeded to smash up the drums and tamborines that lay discarded on the pavement. The crowd included many women and children.
“Why did they do this? They just started attacking people for no reason. They took away my friend and all he was doing was having fun for a change,” said Ahmad, an Iraqi doctor working in Amman.
A police officer on the scene told The Jordan Times the gathering was broken up due to reports of people firing guns into the air.
However, local shop owners denied these claims.
“I have been watching this celebration from my apartment since the game finished and there has been no firing of guns,” said one local resident, who declined to give her name.
Another officer said police were forced to intervene after revellers had blocked the main road, a claim refuted by eyewitnesses.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Support for Al Qaeda plummets in Jordan
By Paul Tate
AMMAN — Support in Jordan for the Al Qaeda network has dropped sharply over the past four years in line with an increasing rejection of extremism across the Muslim world, a global poll revealed on Tuesday.
The decreasing support for Islamic extremism was also reflected in a drop in Osama Ben Laden’s approval ratings, with just 20 per cent of Jordanians expressing a lot or some confidence in the Al Qaeda leader, down from 56 per cent four years ago.
“Among the most striking trends in predominantly Muslim nations is the continuing decline in the number saying that suicide bombings and other forms of violence against civilians are justifiable in the defence of Islam,” said the survey by the Washington-based Pew Research Centre.
Support for suicide bombings had declined by half or more in Lebanon, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia, revealed the 2007 Pew Global Attitudes survey, based on polling data from 47 countries.
Ibrahim Saif, head of the University of Jordan’s Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS), said the poll’s findings reflect a growing repugnance among Jordanians and the wider Muslim world towards the daily slaughter of civilians by suicide bombers in Iraq and elsewhere.
“The unfolding events and mass killings by people allegedly linked to Al Qaeda are forcing people to sit back and take stock. They are realising that these actions are not in line with Islam or any human morals,” he said.
Public opinion in Jordan towards Al Qaeda shifted dramatically following the November 2005 suicide attacks against three of the capital’s hotels. The bombings, claimed by the group’s Iraq wing, killed 90 people and injured hundreds more.
A study published by CSS a month after the attacks revealed that only 20 per cent of Jordanians continued to regard Al Qaeda as a legitimate resistance group, down from 67 per cent in 2004.
Saif said the group’s image had also been dented by its inability since September 11, 2001 to launch attacks against high-profile targets.
He also said a campaign by influential clerics in the Arab world to discredit extremist ideology was making inroads. “More voices are now opposing this interpretation of Islam through the media and they are gaining more followers.”
However, the global survey revealed that in the Palestinian territories suicide bombings continue to enjoy wide popular support, with 70 per cent of the people believing such tactics against civilians can be often or sometimes justified.
The poll also revealed that the majority of people in Muslim countries continue to regard the United States as the biggest threat.
AMMAN — Support in Jordan for the Al Qaeda network has dropped sharply over the past four years in line with an increasing rejection of extremism across the Muslim world, a global poll revealed on Tuesday.
The decreasing support for Islamic extremism was also reflected in a drop in Osama Ben Laden’s approval ratings, with just 20 per cent of Jordanians expressing a lot or some confidence in the Al Qaeda leader, down from 56 per cent four years ago.
“Among the most striking trends in predominantly Muslim nations is the continuing decline in the number saying that suicide bombings and other forms of violence against civilians are justifiable in the defence of Islam,” said the survey by the Washington-based Pew Research Centre.
Support for suicide bombings had declined by half or more in Lebanon, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia, revealed the 2007 Pew Global Attitudes survey, based on polling data from 47 countries.
Ibrahim Saif, head of the University of Jordan’s Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS), said the poll’s findings reflect a growing repugnance among Jordanians and the wider Muslim world towards the daily slaughter of civilians by suicide bombers in Iraq and elsewhere.
“The unfolding events and mass killings by people allegedly linked to Al Qaeda are forcing people to sit back and take stock. They are realising that these actions are not in line with Islam or any human morals,” he said.
Public opinion in Jordan towards Al Qaeda shifted dramatically following the November 2005 suicide attacks against three of the capital’s hotels. The bombings, claimed by the group’s Iraq wing, killed 90 people and injured hundreds more.
A study published by CSS a month after the attacks revealed that only 20 per cent of Jordanians continued to regard Al Qaeda as a legitimate resistance group, down from 67 per cent in 2004.
Saif said the group’s image had also been dented by its inability since September 11, 2001 to launch attacks against high-profile targets.
He also said a campaign by influential clerics in the Arab world to discredit extremist ideology was making inroads. “More voices are now opposing this interpretation of Islam through the media and they are gaining more followers.”
However, the global survey revealed that in the Palestinian territories suicide bombings continue to enjoy wide popular support, with 70 per cent of the people believing such tactics against civilians can be often or sometimes justified.
The poll also revealed that the majority of people in Muslim countries continue to regard the United States as the biggest threat.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
British authorities charge Jordanian doctor over failed terror attacks
By Paul Tate and agencies
AMMAN – A Jordanian doctor arrested in the wake of the failed car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow was remanded in custody on Friday charged with conspiracy to cause explosions.
Mohammad Asha, 26, appeared before the City of Westminster magistrates court in London and was charged with conspiring with Bilal Abdullah, Kafeel Ahmad "and others unknown" to cause explosions and damage to life and property.
He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on July 27.
Doctor Asha was arrested with his wife on June 30 on the M6 motorway in Cheshire, England. His wife, Marwa, 27, was released without charge on July 12. The couple have an 18-month-old baby.
The trainee neuro-surgeon is the fourth person to be charged in connection with the alleged attacks, which involved two car bombs that failed to detonate in central London on June 29 and an attack on Glasgow airport the following day.
The suspect's father, Jamil Asha, declined to comment. He had previously protested his son's innocence and called on Jordan's King Abdullah to personally intervene.
The first person to be charged in connection with the attacks was Iraqi doctor, Bilal Abullah, 27. Abdullah was charged on July 6 with conspiring to cause explosions after a jeep he was allegedly driving rammed into the main terminal of Glasgow airport. He is also due to appear at the Old Bailey on July 27.
His alleged accomplice in that attack, Kafeel Ahmad, remains critically ill in hospital under armed guard after suffering sever burns.
On Monday, Sabeel Ahmed, 26, appeared at City of Westminster magistrates court charged with withholding information that could prevent an act of terrorism. He was arrested in the northwest city of Liverpool on June 30.
Prior to his arrest he was employed at Halton hospital in Runcorn, Cheshire. He was remanded in custody and the case will be reviewed at the same court on Monday, before a committal hearing on August 13.
The fourth person to be indicted is Mohammed Haneef, 27, a distant cousin of the Ahmad brothers. Haneef, an Indian doctor, was charged in Brisbane, Australia, with providing support to a terrorist organisation.
A total of eight people were detained following the botched attacks. Three have been released without charge.
AMMAN – A Jordanian doctor arrested in the wake of the failed car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow was remanded in custody on Friday charged with conspiracy to cause explosions.
Mohammad Asha, 26, appeared before the City of Westminster magistrates court in London and was charged with conspiring with Bilal Abdullah, Kafeel Ahmad "and others unknown" to cause explosions and damage to life and property.
He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on July 27.
Doctor Asha was arrested with his wife on June 30 on the M6 motorway in Cheshire, England. His wife, Marwa, 27, was released without charge on July 12. The couple have an 18-month-old baby.
The trainee neuro-surgeon is the fourth person to be charged in connection with the alleged attacks, which involved two car bombs that failed to detonate in central London on June 29 and an attack on Glasgow airport the following day.
The suspect's father, Jamil Asha, declined to comment. He had previously protested his son's innocence and called on Jordan's King Abdullah to personally intervene.
The first person to be charged in connection with the attacks was Iraqi doctor, Bilal Abullah, 27. Abdullah was charged on July 6 with conspiring to cause explosions after a jeep he was allegedly driving rammed into the main terminal of Glasgow airport. He is also due to appear at the Old Bailey on July 27.
His alleged accomplice in that attack, Kafeel Ahmad, remains critically ill in hospital under armed guard after suffering sever burns.
On Monday, Sabeel Ahmed, 26, appeared at City of Westminster magistrates court charged with withholding information that could prevent an act of terrorism. He was arrested in the northwest city of Liverpool on June 30.
Prior to his arrest he was employed at Halton hospital in Runcorn, Cheshire. He was remanded in custody and the case will be reviewed at the same court on Monday, before a committal hearing on August 13.
The fourth person to be indicted is Mohammed Haneef, 27, a distant cousin of the Ahmad brothers. Haneef, an Indian doctor, was charged in Brisbane, Australia, with providing support to a terrorist organisation.
A total of eight people were detained following the botched attacks. Three have been released without charge.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
British police given more time to question Jordanian terror suspect
By Paul Tate and agencies
AMMAN — A judge in Britain granted police an additional week on Saturday to question a Jordanian doctor over the failed bomb attacks in London and Glasgow.
Mohammad Asha, 26, was detained with his Jordanian wife Marwa, 27, on the M6 motorway in Cheshire, England, on June 30.
He is currently being held at London’s high security Paddington Green police station along with two other trainee doctors aged 25 and 28, whose identities are still unknown.
His wife, Marwa Asha, a laboratory assistant, was released on Thursday night without charge.
Under UK anti-terrorism legislation, police have up to 28 days to question suspects before charging them, but must seek periodic permission from a judge to continue their detention.
Mohammad’s father, Jamil Asha, told The Jordan Times yesterday he had no knowledge of the judge’s decision.
“I haven’t spoken to Mohammad for five days now and the only news we get is through the television,” he said.
He also said Marwa’s family had not heard from their daughter since her release on Thursday night.
“We are waiting by the phone for news but so far we haven’t heard anything,” he said.
Marwa’s family were not available for comment.
Before his arrest, Mohammad Asha was working at North Staffordshire Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent, in northwest England. The couple have an 18-month-old son.
So far, three people have been charged in connection with the failed London and Glasgow car bombings.
Britain’s Metropolitan Police yesterday charged Sabeel Ahmad, 26, with possession of information which could have prevented an act of terrorism. He will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Monday.
Ahmad, from Bangalore, India, was apprehended in the northwest city of Liverpool on June 30.
Also on Saturday, Indian doctor, Mohammad Haneef, 27, appeared in an Australian court charged with providing support to a terrorist organisation, the British Press Association reported.
Haneef, who works at the Gold Coast Hospital, is charged with supporting terror suspects Kafeel Ahmad and Sabeel Ahmad.
The third suspect, Iraqi doctor Bilal Abdullah, 27, is accused of conspiracy to cause explosions and was remanded in custody last week at Westminster Magistrates Court.
Abdullah, faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. He is due to appear at London’s Old Bailey Court on July 27 for an initial hearing.
Kafeel Ahmad, 27, also from Bangalore, is currently under armed guard at specialist burns unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
He was arrested along with Abdullah after a Jeep was driven into the doors of Glasgow International Airport’s main terminal building and burst into flames on June 30.
The attack happened 36 hours after police discovered two cars in central London packed with fuel, gas tanks and nails. Police believe all three incidents were linked.
AMMAN — A judge in Britain granted police an additional week on Saturday to question a Jordanian doctor over the failed bomb attacks in London and Glasgow.
Mohammad Asha, 26, was detained with his Jordanian wife Marwa, 27, on the M6 motorway in Cheshire, England, on June 30.
He is currently being held at London’s high security Paddington Green police station along with two other trainee doctors aged 25 and 28, whose identities are still unknown.
His wife, Marwa Asha, a laboratory assistant, was released on Thursday night without charge.
Under UK anti-terrorism legislation, police have up to 28 days to question suspects before charging them, but must seek periodic permission from a judge to continue their detention.
Mohammad’s father, Jamil Asha, told The Jordan Times yesterday he had no knowledge of the judge’s decision.
“I haven’t spoken to Mohammad for five days now and the only news we get is through the television,” he said.
He also said Marwa’s family had not heard from their daughter since her release on Thursday night.
“We are waiting by the phone for news but so far we haven’t heard anything,” he said.
Marwa’s family were not available for comment.
Before his arrest, Mohammad Asha was working at North Staffordshire Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent, in northwest England. The couple have an 18-month-old son.
So far, three people have been charged in connection with the failed London and Glasgow car bombings.
Britain’s Metropolitan Police yesterday charged Sabeel Ahmad, 26, with possession of information which could have prevented an act of terrorism. He will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Monday.
Ahmad, from Bangalore, India, was apprehended in the northwest city of Liverpool on June 30.
Also on Saturday, Indian doctor, Mohammad Haneef, 27, appeared in an Australian court charged with providing support to a terrorist organisation, the British Press Association reported.
Haneef, who works at the Gold Coast Hospital, is charged with supporting terror suspects Kafeel Ahmad and Sabeel Ahmad.
The third suspect, Iraqi doctor Bilal Abdullah, 27, is accused of conspiracy to cause explosions and was remanded in custody last week at Westminster Magistrates Court.
Abdullah, faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. He is due to appear at London’s Old Bailey Court on July 27 for an initial hearing.
Kafeel Ahmad, 27, also from Bangalore, is currently under armed guard at specialist burns unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
He was arrested along with Abdullah after a Jeep was driven into the doors of Glasgow International Airport’s main terminal building and burst into flames on June 30.
The attack happened 36 hours after police discovered two cars in central London packed with fuel, gas tanks and nails. Police believe all three incidents were linked.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Archaeologists call for urgent plan to preserve Petra
By Paul Tate
AMMAN — As Jordan basks in Petra's glory in becoming one of the world's new seven wonders, leading experts are warning that urgent action is needed to preserve the ancient site against the expected influx of tourists.
According to some of the country's foremost scholars in Nabataean studies, Petra currently faces an array of challenges, ranging from a lack of basic infrastructure and tourism facilities to the growing black market trade in stolen artifacts which are sold openly on the city’s streets.
"We welcome Petra's nomination but the real question is: What next? If we are expecting a big increase in visitors then we need to provide adequate services and take measures to safeguard the site," said Khairieh Amr, deputy director for technical affairs at the Jordan Museum.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Monday said it expected annual tourist numbers to double as a result of Petra’s nomination, which was announced in the early hours of Sunday in Lisbon, Portugal. Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, already attracts around 400,000 visitors per year, making it the jewel of the country's tourism industry.
But despite increasing tourism and growing international attention, experts say little has been done to improve the site's facilities, provide better information to visitors, or preserve its historical monuments.
"We have a situation where a lack of proper regulations and the absence of clearly defined tourist tracks are causing damage to the site. This will only get worse as visitor numbers increase," said Amr, considered one of the world's foremost experts in Nabataean studies.
Specialists such as Amr and Professor Ziad Salamin, the director of the Centre for Nabataean Studies at Al Hussein Ben Talal University in Wadi Musa, stress they are not against more tourists and are aware of the site’s contribution to the country’s economy.
But what they do want, they say, is for the government to outline a clear strategy for Petra’s future development, one that brings together all concerned parties.
Among new measures they would like to see introduced are: clearly defined pathways, better signposting and information boards, adequate car parking facilities, the opening of a new exit to relieve pressure on the Siq, better trained tour guides and more security to prevent the increasing problem of illegal digging.
They also say more attention should be given to the surrounding area, which is rich in archaeological treasures stretching back over 10,000 years from the Epipaleolithic time through to the Islamic period.
"The problem is that the ministry does not coordinate with us or even within its various departments. The end result of this is a lack of facilities, tour brochures that contain factual errors, and guides who are not even aware that over the past year there have been ten new excavation digs," said Salamin, who has lived and studied in the area all his life.
No government officials were available to comment. In a press conference on Monday, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Osama Dabbas said a strategy to address these problems had been in place for several months and would result in "a new edge to the visitor experience". He gave no further details.
Salamin said yesterday his university knew nothing of the plan. "We have seen a lot of projects on paper and heard much talk but what we haven't seen is practical steps on the ground,” he said.
"They even held celebrations to mark Petra's nomination and didn't bother to inform us. We urgently need to strengthen ties and unify our efforts following Petra's victory in order to meet future challenges," he added.
University of Jordan Archaeology Professor Safwan Tel, who headed the ministry's Department of Antiquities from 1990-1994, said the reason for so little progress in upgrading the site was a lack of coordination between his old department and the ministry itself, which he said had the last word on all matters.
"I know from my own experience about the absence of effective cooperation. I believe if we are to make any progress the department should be given some form of autonomy… This is a big moment for us to act, but unfortunately so far the government has not taken things seriously," he said.
AMMAN — As Jordan basks in Petra's glory in becoming one of the world's new seven wonders, leading experts are warning that urgent action is needed to preserve the ancient site against the expected influx of tourists.
According to some of the country's foremost scholars in Nabataean studies, Petra currently faces an array of challenges, ranging from a lack of basic infrastructure and tourism facilities to the growing black market trade in stolen artifacts which are sold openly on the city’s streets.
"We welcome Petra's nomination but the real question is: What next? If we are expecting a big increase in visitors then we need to provide adequate services and take measures to safeguard the site," said Khairieh Amr, deputy director for technical affairs at the Jordan Museum.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Monday said it expected annual tourist numbers to double as a result of Petra’s nomination, which was announced in the early hours of Sunday in Lisbon, Portugal. Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, already attracts around 400,000 visitors per year, making it the jewel of the country's tourism industry.
But despite increasing tourism and growing international attention, experts say little has been done to improve the site's facilities, provide better information to visitors, or preserve its historical monuments.
"We have a situation where a lack of proper regulations and the absence of clearly defined tourist tracks are causing damage to the site. This will only get worse as visitor numbers increase," said Amr, considered one of the world's foremost experts in Nabataean studies.
Specialists such as Amr and Professor Ziad Salamin, the director of the Centre for Nabataean Studies at Al Hussein Ben Talal University in Wadi Musa, stress they are not against more tourists and are aware of the site’s contribution to the country’s economy.
But what they do want, they say, is for the government to outline a clear strategy for Petra’s future development, one that brings together all concerned parties.
Among new measures they would like to see introduced are: clearly defined pathways, better signposting and information boards, adequate car parking facilities, the opening of a new exit to relieve pressure on the Siq, better trained tour guides and more security to prevent the increasing problem of illegal digging.
They also say more attention should be given to the surrounding area, which is rich in archaeological treasures stretching back over 10,000 years from the Epipaleolithic time through to the Islamic period.
"The problem is that the ministry does not coordinate with us or even within its various departments. The end result of this is a lack of facilities, tour brochures that contain factual errors, and guides who are not even aware that over the past year there have been ten new excavation digs," said Salamin, who has lived and studied in the area all his life.
No government officials were available to comment. In a press conference on Monday, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Osama Dabbas said a strategy to address these problems had been in place for several months and would result in "a new edge to the visitor experience". He gave no further details.
Salamin said yesterday his university knew nothing of the plan. "We have seen a lot of projects on paper and heard much talk but what we haven't seen is practical steps on the ground,” he said.
"They even held celebrations to mark Petra's nomination and didn't bother to inform us. We urgently need to strengthen ties and unify our efforts following Petra's victory in order to meet future challenges," he added.
University of Jordan Archaeology Professor Safwan Tel, who headed the ministry's Department of Antiquities from 1990-1994, said the reason for so little progress in upgrading the site was a lack of coordination between his old department and the ministry itself, which he said had the last word on all matters.
"I know from my own experience about the absence of effective cooperation. I believe if we are to make any progress the department should be given some form of autonomy… This is a big moment for us to act, but unfortunately so far the government has not taken things seriously," he said.
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