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