Jordan eyes tourism bonanza with expansion of Jesus’ baptismal site | Suleiman Al-Khalidi

Jordan eyes tourism bonanza with expansion of Jesus’ baptismal site | Suleiman Al-Khalidi

BETHANY BEYOND THE JORDAN, Jordan-

For centuries thousands of pilgrims a year have made the journey to Bethany Beyond The Jordan, a site on the east bank of the Jordan River which Christians believe to be the exact spot where Jesus was baptised.

This number could swell to one million visitors a year if a proposed phased six-year $300 million project for a 'tourist city', adjacent to what is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, goes ahead.