Now that the ancient rose red city of Petra has been named one of the new seven wonders of the world, tourists are flying to Jordan for the day from Dubai to tick it off their lists.

Jill Worrall finds herself distracted from Bethany Beyond the Jordan's biblical significance by a man with an enormous paunch wearing a pair of tiny speedoes.

It would be a tragedy if an attack on New Zealand tourists in the Jordan capital of Amman stopped people visiting the "delightful" country, say kiwi travel agents.