Baptism Site added to UNESCO’s heritage list

AMMAN — Jordan's Baptism Site was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, to become the fifth site in the Kingdom included in the list after Petra, Quseir Amra, Um Al Rassas and Wadi Rum.

Also known as Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the site is the location where Jesus Christ is believed to have been baptised by John the Baptist.

The decision came on Friday during a World Heritage Committee meeting in Bonn, Germany, where the panel met to examine proposals to inscribe 37 properties.

The World Heritage Committee added three new cultural sites to the World Heritage List this afternoon, according to a statement on UNESCO website. 

These sites are the Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale in Italy; Baptism Site oBethany Beyond the Jordant (Al-Maghtas) in Jordan and Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia.

“Jordan managed to implement all requirements needed to add the Baptism Site on this list,” Minister of Tourism Nayef Fayez told The Jordan Times on Saturday, adding that work should be continuous to maintain the site in this list in the future.

He added that the site had been recognised for its religious importance and now it is recognised as a heritage site, which adds more to its significance.

The minister added that there will be campaigns to promote the site and attract more visitors.

In a statement posted on its website, UNESCO said the Baptism Site, 40km west of Amman, is classified among mixed natural and cultural sites.