The Bethany baptism site, beyond the Jordan River, where Jesus of Nazareth is said to have been baptized through John the Baptist, is adorned with bright green acacias that are known to withstand intense heat. Also scattered throughout the region, nine kilometers north of the Dead Sea in the Jordan Valley, are feathered tamarisks with needle-shaped leaves. With trees and thickets of reeds, they permeate the landscape, creating a stark contrast to the vast and arid desert.
An old woman hunting in the river; Her feelings hit her as tears streamed down her cheeks. A young Jordanian on the tour turned to his friends and said quietly, “This is Mecca for us.
Archaeological discoveries and biblical links
Once filled with thousands of landmines, the domain has a treasure trove of archaeological finds. Since the signing of a peace treaty between Jordan and Israel in 1994, extensive excavations have unearthed remains of churches, baptismal basins, water canals and caves, highlighting the domain’s ancient importance as a place of pilgrimage dating back to the fourth century AD.
This place, surrounded by ancient pillars and churches that exist since the V century AD. C. , is one of the holiest Christian sites, along with the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. In 2015, it was designated as a World Heritage Site.
Located east of the river is Elijah Hill, a site where devout and worshiping figures Jesus revealed himself to his apostles Peter, James and John. The domain also includes the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In 1991, a cave was discovered in the hillsa position to receive pilgrims at the place of baptism.
Tourism and efforts
The Jordanian government’s efforts to attract tourists to the baptism site have won a mixed reception. In 2017, an advertising crusade was presented with the slogan “For God’s sake, visit”. While the crusade resonated among the Lebanese as a heartfelt calling, some Jordanians noted it as frivolous. More recently, the country’s tourism sector suffered another setback due to the implementation of strict measures against the coronavirus, such as the ban on visitors.
The tourism sector in Jordan contributes around 20% of GDP. In 2019, more than five million people visited Jordan; In the first quarter of 2023, more than 1. 4 million tourists were registered. According to the Ministry of Tourism, about 85% of visitors to Jordan come for its history and culture, with devotees like Mount Nebo and the baptism rating just below popular destinations like Petra, Jerash and Wadi Rum. Despite this, the country faces a tough festival to attract tourists compared to its neighbors, adding to Israel. achieve one hundred million visitors consistent with the year and make tourism its source of momentary profits until 2030.
The baptism site attracts a great diversity of visitors, with Europeans making up the majority, followed by 24% from the United States, 7% from Jordanians and visitors from Arab countries, and the remaining 9% from Africa and East Asia. With restrictions lifted in Jordan and elsewhere, an extensive government-led marketing campaign focused on Europe and the Gulf countries through ads at exercise stations, grocery stores and online.
Since then, the baptism site has noticed an increase in tourist arrivals, adding a recent stopover on Oprah. She shared a photo of herself with her 22 million Instagram followers, being on a step of the site inaccessible to the public. By the end of this year, the number of climbers is expected to exceed 200,000, doubling the numbers of previous years, adding up before the pandemic.
The plan outlines a six-year, $300 million project. He envisions a village that provides services such as hotels, an amphitheater, glamping facilities, a museum and hospitality services. The plan also includes a domain designated for non-secular ceremonies, aimed at attracting more pilgrims.
“The purpose is to create a world-class destination for devout tourism,” explained Kamel Mahadin, the lead architect of the designs. “The position will be an educational and traditionally vital Christian pilgrimage site. “
This renewed interest coincides with a significant decline in the Christian population in the Arab world. In countries such as Syria and Iraq, ongoing conflicts have had a negative effect on Christian communities. In other countries, such as Jordan, difficult economic situations and the allure of greater opportunities elsewhere played a role in the decline.
During the interview with CNN, King Abdullah expressed his fear about the possible consequences of the drop in numbers: “If we don’t have Christians in the area, I think it’s a crisis for all of us. They are part of our past, they are part of our supply and they will have to be part of our future.
Challenges and conservation
Kamel Mahadin’s office in Amman is filled with posters, notebooks and digitized models of the plans of the baptism site. He says he toured ancient cities such as Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Karak in Jordan, incorporating elements of those historic sites into his creations.
The task includes the creation of agricultural parks, a bird sanctuary and farms that will offer visitors a taste of local cuisine. It will also highlight plants of great importance, such as palm trees and olive trees.
“We’re not here to rip anything off,” Yazan said. The plan will go up to local plants and create a sustainable ecosystem. “He pointed out that between 60% and 70% of the land will be designated as an agricultural progression zone. The project, adjacent to the baptism itself, prioritizes sustainable practices, emphasizing the importance of water recycling and the incorporation of solar panels to take advantage of renewable energies.
While many applauded the proposal, some worry that over-commercialization and infrastructure progression could compromise the site’s old, non-secular environment. But the Jordanian government and architects say the final design of the progression is eco-friendly and will have the infrastructure to accommodate 1 million pilgrims and tourists a year.
The concept aims to create a two- to three-hour excursion that encourages other people to interact with locals and stay longer, Murad explained. The plan, if implemented, would revitalize the region and address the pressing need for job creation in the local community, which suffers from the highest unemployment rates. Nationally, almost a proportion of Jordan’s youth are unemployed and almost a quarter of the country’s population lives below the poverty line.
A board and advisory committee composed of experts and stakeholders was formed to oversee the implementation of the allocation and decision-making process. The initial phase focuses on the progression of government-funded infrastructure for drainage, water and electricity. Subsequently, the allocation will seek investments from a sustainable progression fund in collaboration with the United Nations. to Samir Badrán.
However, the master plan architects and committee members have considerations about allocation, basically focusing on the enormous challenge of raising enough investment and the practical difficulties in implementation, adding how to accommodate five times the current number of visitors to the site. But the fate of the allocation is not only dictated by monetary constraints and logistical obstacles; Political dynamics and environmental considerations also play a vital role.
Evidently along the edge of the parched river were deep dry folds dug into the sand, highlighting the arid conditions. The tip of the Dead Sea falls one meter every year, causing chasms and other major disruptions for the agricultural sector. The continued diversion of water from the Jordan River is contributing to its contraction, which is further affected by climate change and emerging temperatures.
Today, that of the Jordan River is less than 10% of its ancient average. About 37% of Jordan’s water source comes from surface water resources, mainly the Jordan, Zarqa and Yarmouk rivers. Jordan’s access to those rivers is affected by a lack of regional environmental cooperation and the diversion and overpumping carried out through Israel and Syria, resulting in the depletion of the rivers.
Jordanians, Palestinians and Israelis have already discussed a mega task to build a canal from the Red Sea to feed the Dead Sea. The surface of the Dead Sea is 430 meters below sea level, so the task can also take advantage of this altitude difference to produce electricity. to bureaucratic difficulties, investment problems and environmental objections.
Meanwhile, in the Mahadins’ office, Kamel checks the papers on his desk. Discover conceptual watercolors from his stack of sketches, highlighting the pilgrimage village, walking trail, bazaar, and museum. “Our view,” he said, “is that this is the lowest point on Earth, but it is the closest to God. “
Rana F. Sweis is a freelance journalist covering political, social and refugee issues in the Middle East. She is the author of Voices of Jordan (Hurst Co. ), a nonfiction e-book about fashionable life in Jordan. He holds a master’s degree from the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.
Main courtesy of the author.
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