On December 6, 1985 Petra was designated a World Heritage Site. A team of architects has been (2006) set to work on a 'Visitor Centre', and Jordan's tourist revenue is set to increase dramatically, with the mass production of visitors on package holidays, although this is sensitive to any hint of political instability.

John William Burgon famously wrote that Petra was a "rose red city half as old as time." Although at that time Burgon had never been to Petra himself, the phrase has become strongly associated with Petra. In fact the rocks of Petra are of many hues, few of which could properly be described as "rose red".