The number of visitors to the "Baptism Site" of Jesus Christ from January through last July reached 46,321, including 39,805 foreign tourists and 6,516 Jordanians, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism.
اضافة اعلان
According to official data, the number of visitors dropped by 17.4% compared to the same period last year, during which visitor numbers reached 56,069—comprising 48,471 foreign tourists and 7,598 Jordanians.
The ministry noted that its 2026 figures are preliminary data.
Located about 9 km north of the Dead Sea, the "Baptism Site" is considered one of the holiest places on Earth for all Christian denominations. Efforts to preserve and protect it fall within the historical responsibility toward the holy sites located east of the Jordan River.
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed site was declared a destination for Christian pilgrimage by Saint Pope John Paul II during his historic visit in 2000.
The Baptism Site receives Christian pilgrims of all denominations. It has been visited by Saint Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, as well as numerous senior religious and political leaders.
Senator Michel Nazzal, Chairman of the Tourism and Heritage Committee in the Senate, affirmed that the Baptism Site (Bethany Beyond the Jordan) represents one of the holiest sites in Christianity, while simultaneously embodying Jordan's message of coexistence, dialogue, and peace among religions and cultures.
Nazzal stated that the site derives its religious and historical significance from its association with the baptism of Jesus Christ at the hands of John the Baptist. He stressed that the site is not merely a religious or archaeological location for Jordan, but rather a "national message" reflecting the Kingdom's status as a land of coexistence and peace.
Nazzal pointed out that the approaching year 2030, which coincides with the bimillennial (2,000th) anniversary of the baptism of Jesus Christ, represents a historic opportunity for Jordan to enhance the site's position on the global Christian pilgrimage map and achieve the status it deserves as an international religious and tourism destination.
He emphasized that preparations for this occasion should not be limited to organizing celebrations, but require the continued development of the site and its surrounding area. This includes the visitor center, museum, tourist village, as well as hotels, restaurants, transportation, infrastructure, and green trails.
He explained that the goal must be to transform the Baptism Site from a place pilgrims simply visit into an integrated religious tourism destination where visitors stay in Jordan for several nights, yielding a positive impact on the tourism sector and national economy.
Similarly, Archbishop Christoforos Atallah, President of the Council of Church Leaders in Jordan, stated earlier that commemorating the 2,000th anniversary of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River in 2030 marks a pivotal milestone in solidifying the Kingdom's position on the global Christian pilgrimage map. This comes at a time when the government is proceeding with a package of projects on the lands adjacent to the Baptism Site at a total cost of approximately $120 million.
The package includes four main projects spanning an area of 1,400 dunams: the Baptism of Jesus Christ Museum at a cost of $50 million, an integrated village for pilgrims and visitors at approximately $40 million, infrastructure works at $27 million, and a green corridor at an estimated cost of $3 million.
Tharwat Al-Masalha, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Development of Lands Adjacent to the Baptism Site, stated earlier that the development project for the adjacent lands began in 2022 with the preparation of the master plan, followed by securing project funding and preparing the necessary studies and designs.
Al-Masalha added that the projects currently being executed on the lands adjacent to the site represent an initial launch for preparations to receive pilgrims from around the world in 2030, marking the first steps following the formation of the Higher National Committee to prepare for the celebration of the baptism of Jesus Christ in 2030.
He noted that the infrastructure project costs $27 million, explaining that work on it will begin during the current month of August, with infrastructure scheduled to be ready within two years, by mid-2028.
Al-Masalha stated that the second project is the Pilgrims' Village (or Visitors' Village), which includes key landmarks and services that provide visitors and pilgrims with spaces for rest, shopping, and dining, in addition to a hotel, health and entertainment facilities, and commercial shops.
He explained that the village project costs approximately $40 million and is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
He added that work on the village will begin in the first quarter of 2027, noting that its execution will coincide with the infrastructure project, while work on the museum project will also begin during the same period.
Al-Masalha indicated that the final project expected to be completed is the museum, which is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2029.
