Jordan’s Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II visited the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ at Bethany Beyond the Jordan—known locally as Al-Maghtas—on September 13 to inspect visitor services and outline preparations ahead of major upcoming religious milestones. With the year 2030 marking two millennia since the traditional date of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, the Crown Prince issued official directives to enhance the location’s infrastructure to better serve international Christian pilgrims and tourists.
A statement from the Royal Hashemite Court emphasized the imperative for meticulous, long-term planning regarding the 2030 millennium celebrations. Crown Prince Al Hussein highlighted that the event should honor the profound historical and spiritual weight of the location while solidifying Jordan’s standing as a premier global destination for Christian pilgrimage. He called for expanded international promotion of the holy site in close collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Jordan Tourism Board, and key local partners.
During the site visit, the Crown Prince was joined by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and chairman of the Baptism Site Commission’s board of trustees, alongside Princess Miriam Ghazi, Tourism Minister Imad Hijazin, and other senior officials. The delegation reviewed the current facilities and operational services available to incoming pilgrims.
Situated along the east bank of the Jordan River, Al-Maghtas holds immense historical significance. Extensive archaeological excavations over the decades have uncovered early Christian churches, chapels, hermits’ caves, and ancient baptisteries directly linked to early pilgrimage traditions. Recognizing its unique cultural and spiritual heritage, UNESCO officially designated the area as a World Heritage Site in 2015.