Jordan has announced the construction of a tourist park worth over 300 million euros at the holy site of Jesus' baptism, Al-Maghtas. The project, supported by King Abdullah, is expected to be completed in 2029 and is being financed by private funds, mainly from the United Arab Emirates and the Mormons of America.
Covering an area of 50 hectares, the complex will include hotels, restaurants, markets and an amphitheater, creating a modern tourist village next to the new Basilica of the Baptism of Jesus and the ruins of ancient churches. Work will begin in 2027 and will last two years, with the first phase completed by the end of 2029, just in time for the 2,000th anniversary of the beginning of Jesus' preaching.
The project aims to increase religious tourism, but has also raised concerns about preserving the sanctity of the site. The site's custodian, Rustom Mkhjian, has stressed the need to protect the area's spiritual identity, while ensuring it does not become a mere tourist attraction.
"Many holy places have lost their original soul. They have become Disneylands, that is, tourist attractions without a soul. But we don't want that to happen here. We want everyone to be able to walk in the footsteps of the prophets again," he said.
UNESCO, which has recognized Al-Maghtas as a World Heritage site since 2014, has been warned to monitor developments and avoid any potential abuse.
Meanwhile, the Vatican is not currently part of the financing, although Pope Francis has been kept informed about the project by King Abdullah since 2022.
According to the Gospels, John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the waters of the Jordan. A place that was officially recognized by the Vatican as a holy site in 2020, after decades of in-depth archaeological research. And where on January 10 last year the first Latin church in the area was inaugurated, in a ceremony presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, the Pope's special envoy for the occasion.
This investment is expected to bring economic development and increase pilgrimage visits to the region, but the main challenge remains preserving the identity and spirit of this holy site.
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