THE Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) is looking forward to a landmark year, during which it will witness a series of events, anniversaries, celebrations and a Papal pilgrimage.
There are centennial celebrations for the capital Amman, the country is also celebrating a decade of the rule of His Majesty King Abdullah II, who ascended to the Throne after the demise of the late King Hussein Bin Talal. Other important events include a Papal visit and the annual meetings of the World Economic Forum.
JTB managing director Nayef al-Fayez has expressed great hope for 2009 saying it will be a landmark year. He said that upcoming attractions will deliver a memorable experience to Jordan’s people and its visitors.
“Jordan’s uniqueness and strongest selling point is its diversity, and the combination of a strategic geographical position, mild climate, diverse landscape, rich history and culture, holy sites, historical and archaeological locations, a cosmopolitan capital, and reasonable cost,” said Al-Fayez.
Pope Benedict XVI is expected to visit Jordan on May 8, where he will lay the corner stone for the Latin Church at the Baptism Site (Bethany Beyond the Jordan). He will be the second pope, after John Paul II, to visit the holy site since it was discovered in 1996.
The site, where Jesus Christ has been baptised by John the Baptist, is a leading attraction for thousands of tourists from around the world. It has drawn 280,000 visitors and pilgrims (mostly European) in 2008, which represents a rise of 86 per cent over 2007.
The Pontiff’s three day visit will include an audience with His Majesty King Abdullah II, and a visit to Al-Hussein Ben Talal Mosque and the Madaba University which is being built by the Roman Catholic Church.
Another landmark event is a marathon at Petra on September 26, which will take participants through the 1.2 km gorge known as the Siq, across the site of the Treasury, and along other ancient attractions.