Jordan Daily -The Foundation for the Development of Lands Adjacent to the Baptism Site is continuing technical and design work on Bethany Village, within wider efforts to develop the area near the Baptism Site while preserving its distinctive character and reflecting its global religious and historical significance.
To this end, the Foundation’s team carried out a field visit to assess the visual impact of the proposed security plan. They were joined by three heritage impact assessment specialists working to UNESCO standards, along with representatives of the Public Security Directorate, the construction contractor and the company overseeing the design of the museum and the village, as well as the associated infrastructure works, on behalf of the project owner.
The visit involved installing story poles on the project grounds to simulate the proposed elements and gauge their visibility from Mar Elias Hill, helping to evaluate their visual impact and inform design and implementation decisions in harmony with the site’s character and surroundings.
A meeting followed to review preparations for the infrastructure works, attended by the Director General of the Baptism Site Commission, an engineer from the Commission and members of the project team.
The team also toured the plot allocated for the Museum of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, where soil testing was conducted and potential locations for the museum entrances were discussed, as part of the technical studies needed to prepare the design of one of Bethany Village’s principal components.
Together, these efforts support the continued development of Bethany Village in line with Royal directives and the Foundation’s mandate to shape the area adjacent to the Baptism Site in a manner befitting its global religious and historical significance, while safeguarding its natural setting and biodiversity and ensuring compliance with UNESCO requirements.
The project aims to create an integrated destination that enriches the pilgrim and visitor experience and raises Jordan’s profile on the global map of religious, cultural and spiritual tourism. It coincides with preparations for the commemoration of the 2000th anniversary of the Baptism of Jesus Christ in 2030 — an occasion of profound religious significance worldwide and an opportunity to spotlight Jordan as a land where biblical history remains alive.
