Amman – Jordan is a prominent destination for religious tourism in the Middle East, as the kingdom boasts a rich history that reflects the succession of civilizations on its land. This is due to the sacred sites and historical landmarks related to Christian pilgrimage sites and Islamic historical sites, making religious tourism in Jordan a key pillar in promoting understanding between nations and spreading values of tolerance. It also helps in marketing the country as a global religious destination, supporting the national economy by attracting visitors from all around the world.
اضافة اعلان
As part of its efforts to develop religious and cultural tourism and enhance the kingdom's status as a leading Christian pilgrimage destination, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Jordan, in collaboration with the Vatican, organized a press conference titled "Jordan: The Dawn of Christianity" last Wednesday. According to Minister of Tourism Lina Annab, Jordan will organize, in cooperation with the Vatican, a heritage exhibition in the Vatican as part of the ministry's efforts to highlight "Jordan's importance as the dawn of the Christian religion."
In her speech at the press conference, Minister Annab stated that more than 90 rare archaeological pieces, carefully selected to tell the story of Jordan's intertwined heritage with the roots of Christianity, would be exhibited. These artifacts include intricate mosaics and ancient symbols, such as the fish symbol, one of the most important and rarest artifacts in the history of Christianity. She pointed out that the exhibition highlights discoveries that narrate the development of Christianity in Jordan through the ages.
Attractions
The exhibition will take visitors on a journey through time to explore sacred sites in Jordan, which are key Christian pilgrimage destinations recognized by the Vatican. Among the most prominent of these are: Mount Elias, the birthplace of the Prophet Elijah; the Church of Our Lady of the Mountain in Anjara, which commemorates the Virgin Mary; Mount Nebo, the burial site of Prophet Moses (near Madaba); Machaerus, the site of the martyrdom of John the Baptist (Prophet Yahya ibn Zakaria); and the Baptism Site of Christ, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist at the Baptism site on the Jordan River.
The Baptism Site is a sacred location for Christians, attracting pilgrims from around the world. It is home to many churches belonging to various Christian denominations, and it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Other prominent attractions for Christian religious tourism in Jordan include the Church of St. George in Madaba, famous for the 6th-century Madaba Mosaic Map, which depicts the Holy Lands according to Christians. Also noteworthy is the Cave of the Seven Sleepers (a shared Islamic and Christian heritage site), where it is believed the seven youths mentioned in the Quran and the Bible slept. The cave is located in the Raqim area near the capital, Amman.
On the other hand, the Director General of the Jordan Tourism Board, Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat, stated that Islamic and Christian religious tourism in Jordan is "exceptionally distinguished." Jordan offers "Umrah Plus" programs, which attract Muslims from faraway countries who, after performing the Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, come to Jordan to visit the tombs of the companions and prophets. Jordan contains many tombs of companions and prophets.
Among the most prominent prophet tombs in Jordan are the Tomb of Prophet Shu'ayb near Salt, and the Tomb of Prophet Aaron in Petra. In Jordan, approximately 10,000 companions died, including prominent figures like Abu Ubayda Amir ibn al-Jarrah, Mu'adh ibn Jabal, Sharhabil ibn Hasna, with their graves known, along with the shrine of companions like Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, Abdullah ibn Rawaha, and Zayd ibn Haritha, commanders of the Battle of Mu'tah.
Arabiyat added that major Islamic battles, such as the Battle of Yarmouk and the Battle of Mu'tah, occurred on Jordanian soil, making it a unique religious and tourism experience, with well-planned programs for this purpose.
Marketing Plans
Arabiyat also mentioned that the Jordan Tourism Board has marketing plans and ambitious tourism products and experiences for 2025 that serve the aspirations of both Arab and international tourists.
He added in his conversation with Al Jazeera, that this year brings many major and distinguished tourism events, with over 60 events – the first of their kind in Jordan. "We are working on attracting Arab tourists to Jordan, especially as the weather in the kingdom is moderate. In fact, Amman is perhaps the only Arab capital in the region that can host outdoor events in such mild weather."
According to data from the Jordan Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the number of tourists arriving in Jordan from Arab countries in 2024 was approximately 3.27 million, a 0.7% increase compared to 2023. The number of Jordanian expatriates who visited the country was 1.7 million.
Saudi nationals ranked first, followed by Kuwaitis in second place, as the most frequent Arab visitors to Jordan, followed by Bahrainis in third place, then Omanis, Emiratis, and Qataris.
A decrease of 3% was recorded in the total number of tourists coming to Jordan in 2024, with the total reaching 6.1 million, compared to 6.3 million tourists in 2023, due to the repercussions of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
