Even so, the country faces tough competition in attracting tourists compared to its neighbors, including Israel. Nebo and the baptism site ranking just below popular destinations such as Petra, Jerash, and Wadi Rum. According to the Ministry of Tourism, around 85% of visitors to Jordan come for its history and culture, with religious sites like Mt. In 2019, over 5 million people visited Jordan during the first quarter of 2023, more than 1.4 million tourists were recorded. The tourism sector in Jordan contributes approximately 20% of GDP. More recently, the country’s tourism sector faced another setback due to the enforcement of stringent coronavirus measures, effectively prohibiting visitors. In 2017, an advertising campaign was launched with the slogan, “For God’s sake, visit.” While the campaign resonated with the Lebanese as a heartfelt appeal, it was viewed as flippant by some Jordanians. The Jordanian government’s efforts to attract tourists to the baptism site have at times been met with a mixed reception. Nine religious organizations will be granted the opportunity to build a place for receiving pilgrims at the baptism site. In 1991, a cave was discovered in the hills. It was identified as the ancient site of Zoar, the city where it’s believed Lot and his family took refuge during the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The area also encompasses the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Situated to the east of the river is the Hill of Elijah, a site where religious figures and followers believe Jesus revealed himself to his apostles Peter, James, and John. In 2015, it was designated as a World Heritage Site. This location, surrounded by ancient pillars and churches that have stood since the 5th century CE, is one of the most sacred Christian sites, along with the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Photo by Jon G Fuller/Eye Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group via Getty Images. The famous mosaic map of Palestine, called the Madaba Map, on the floor of St. It has also gained recognition from archaeologists, researchers, popes, and the United Nations. It contained indications of the site, in present-day Jordan, where Jesus was believed to have been baptized. It was during this excavation that the oldest mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land was discovered. In 1884, the ruins of an old Byzantine church were cleared in the ancient town of Madaba, southwest of Amman. The location of the actual baptism site remained a mystery until clues, left behind by monks and local inhabitants, were discovered. Since the signing of a peace treaty between Jordan and Israel in 1994, extensive excavations have unearthed remnants of churches, baptismal pools, water channels, and caves, emphasizing the historical significance of the region as a pilgrimage site dating back to the 4th century CE. A young Jordanian man from the tour turned to his friends and quietly said, “It is to them what Mecca is to us.”Īrcheological discoveries and biblical connectionsįormerly filled with thousands of landmines, the area has evolved into a treasure trove of archaeological discoveries. Photo courtesy of the author.Īn elderly woman stared at the river her emotions overwhelmed her as tears streamed down her cheeks. Tourists descending upon the water of the baptism site, Al-Maghtas, Jordan. Spanish tourists, dressed in white gowns, immersed themselves in the Jordan River (now much reduced), reenacting biblical scenes while being observed by Jordanian soldiers. Before reaching the river, the group visited a small Greek Orthodox church with intricate murals and aqua-blue stained glass windows. In early June this year, tourists and pilgrims, led by a guide, walked in groups, pausing at the baptism site to observe the distant pillars and faded mosaics. To this day, these plants, along with trees and thickets of reeds, permeate the landscape, creating a striking contrast against the vast and barren desert. These shrubs hold biblical significance: According to the Bible, they were planted by Abraham, sought for solace by Saul, and provided rest for fallen warriors. Also scattered throughout the area, nine kilometers north of the Dead Sea in the Jordan Valley, are feathery tamarisk plants with needle-like leaves. The Bethany Beyond the Jordan baptism site, where Jesus of Nazareth is believed to have been baptized by John the Baptist, is adorned with bright green acacia trees known for withstanding intense heat.
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