by Daoud Kuttab
Amman — August 13, 2025

Jordan is missing a major opportunity to draw millions of Christian pilgrims each year despite being home to some of the most important sites in the history of Christianity, Senator Michael Nazzal told a joint meeting of the Amman Cosmopolitan and Amman Philadelphia Rotary Clubs on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Four Seasons Hotel, Nazzal — who chairs the Senate’s Tourism and Heritage Committee — said that while the country has developed hotels, infrastructure, and marketing channels, it has yet to fully capitalize on its unique position as the land where Jesus Christ was baptized and where key biblical events took place.

He cited the stark contrast between visitor numbers to the Baptism Site of Jesus on the Jordan River and the Vatican in Rome. “Imagine: 26 million people go to Rome every year, yet only about 100,000 come to the Baptism Site,” Nazzal said. “Jesus himself was here, along with ten of the apostles, but we get a fraction of the visitors.”

Other Christian sites also remain under-promoted, he said. These include Machaerus (Mukawir), where John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded; Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land; and the mosaic-rich churches of Madaba and Umm ar-Rasas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “Umm ar-Rasas has 16 churches, but barely 2,000 visitors a year,” he lamented.

Nazzal argued that religious tourism could significantly boost Jordan’s economy, which relies on tourism for 15% of GDP and indirectly supports a range of industries. Faith-based travel, he said, is less vulnerable to seasonal fluctuations and could attract visitors from large communities abroad, such as the world’s 16 million Baptists.

However, he noted that insufficient air connections, limited public transport to heritage sites, and a lack of sustained marketing campaigns have hampered growth. “We have to make it easier and more affordable for pilgrims to reach these sacred places,” he said, urging the Ministry of Tourism to focus on developing religious itineraries and building partnerships with churches and tour operators abroad.

The senator also called for more cultural programming to enrich the visitor experience, such as evening events featuring Jordanian music, dance, and cuisine. “Pilgrims don’t just come for one site — they want a spiritual journey combined with culture and hospitality,” he said.

Despite geopolitical challenges, including the war in Gaza, Nazzal expressed optimism that with targeted investment, Jordan could multiply its religious tourism numbers. “Our Christian heritage is not only part of our history — it’s a global treasure,” he said. “If we tell our story properly, pilgrims from all over the world will come.”