Amman, Sept. 16 (Petra) — Director of the Catholic Center for
Studies and Media Father Rifaat Bader said Crown Prince Al Hussein
bin Abdullah II’s visit to the Baptism Site carries significant
national, religious, and tourism implications, particularly as Jordan
begins serious preparations for 2030, when the country and the world
will mark 2,000 years since the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan
River.

Bader stressed that the Crown Prince’s visit would once again
highlight the global significance of the Baptism Site and give “added
momentum” to preparations and projects aimed at developing
infrastructure, improving services, establishing a museum, and
enhancing arrangements for receiving pilgrims and visitors ahead of
the historic 2030 milestone.

He noted that Vatican News, the Vatican’s official news outlet,
highlighted the Crown Prince’s visit and carried the Royal Hashemite
Court’s report, accompanied by photographs, reflecting the attention
the site receives from the global church community.

Bader explained the Crown Prince has consistently supported national
initiatives that strengthen Jordan’s identity and its message of
moderation and coexistence. He cited the Crown Prince’s initiatives,
including the annual Tawasol Conference and efforts related to the
“Jordanian Narrative,” as examples of achievements made under his
guidance. He added that the visit would also help draw greater
attention to religious tourism as an important pillar of the national
economy.

Bader pointed out that Jordan’s tourism sector has faced successive
challenges in recent years, beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic,
followed by the war in Gaza and regional tensions and conflicts,
noting that these developments affected tourism and pilgrimage flows.

He expressed hope that regional stability would help restore tourism
activity and that pilgrimage and religious tourism agencies around
the world would begin preparing now for 2030, placing Jordan and the
Baptism Site among their priorities.

Bader also praised Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, who accompanied the
Crown Prince during the visit alongside Princess Maryam Ghazi, for
his efforts in managing the Baptism Site and promoting its religious
and historical significance, as well as the continued royal attention
to the site since its official opening to visitors and pilgrims.

He commended the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for supporting
religious tourism and promoting Jordan’s Christian holy sites,
stressing the ministry’s role in developing the religious tourism
product and strengthening the Kingdom’s position on the global
Christian pilgrimage map.

Bader also praised Tourism Minister Imad Hijazin and the ministry’s
cooperation with tourism stakeholders, including the high-level
committee launched by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan to serve as the
central committee for preparations for the Holy Year.

He noted that religious and cultural events held at Jordan’s
Christian holy sites, including a recent event at Machaerus under the
patronage of Prince Hassan bin Talal, contribute to highlighting
Jordan’s religious heritage and preparing for the next phase. He also
pointed to an upcoming event at the Roman Theater on Tuesday,
organized by the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies and the
Catholic Center for Studies and Media.

Bader concluded that the Crown Prince’s visit would produce positive
results in the coming days, months, and years, stressing that
preparations for 2030 should not focus solely on the Baptism Site but
also provide an opportunity to highlight Jordan’s network of
Christian holy sites, including Machaerus, Mount Nebo, Mar Elias, and
Our Lady of the Mountain in Anjara. He said highlighting these sites
would reinforce Jordan’s position as a Holy Land and a global
destination for pilgrimage and religious tourism.

//Petra// AJ