Sustainable Destination Management
Strategies in the OIC Member Countries
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monastery in Maadi. These five archaeological sites are maintained under the supervision of
the Ministry of Archaeology. The Tourism Development Authority and governorate also
increased the efficiency of roads and other services. Up to now, the holy corridor is still being
developed. After finishing the three stages of the project, authorities will then work on plans
for sustainability.
In Jordan, the only new construction in Bethany Beyond the Jordan will be new churches for
the various Christian denominations, which are allowed only in certain areas away from the
core archaeological area. Another possibility for new construction that is currently being
examined is the establishment of a tourist village at the far eastern end of the site, near the
entrance and away from the main archaeological area. This tourist village may include low-rise
housing that is compatible with international conventions and charters, the Jordan Valley
Authority law, and the law of antiquities in addition to other facilities to accommodate pilgrims
and other visitors who may wish to stay overnight while participating in events at the modern
churches or visiting other nearby sites, such as Mount Nebo, Mukawar and Madaba. This
proposed village is one of the main components of the future visitation strategy.
For Jordan, suggested strategies to enhance the governance of corridor sites include adding a
Conservation, Interpretation, and Management Unit that employs conservation specialists and
an archaeological team to provide research on archaeology and the history of the sites, as well
as conservationists of mosaics and mosaic flooring, site interpretation and presentation
experts, who would work on developing strategies for the future interpretation of the site. It is
also recommended to add a Heritage and Education Tourism Unit to promote heritage as well
as a museum curator to address issues of artifact acquisition, renovation, interpretation, and
display.
Evaluation of the Corridor
Although the Holy Family TC has a tremendous potential to attract religious travelers and also
has a wide range of sites, it is not fully utilized by the countries in question. This is mainly due
to political challenges, which cannot be overcome by private sector engagement at the moment.
There is private sector engagement, connected particularly with other tourist attractions in the
region. However, even though the corridor is marketed in Egypt, development is mainly
focused on individual sites and not on the corridor as a whole. There is still room to grow, even
with the sustainable development of individual sites. In Jordan, collaboration is needed
between the Ministry of Tourism and other stakeholders to coordinate plans for the
archaeological site and environmental protection, adopting the required conservation
measures for the site while neutralizing the potential effects of pollution on the area.549
549 Mohammad Waheeb, Raed AlGhazawi, and AbdAziz Mahmoud, "Bethany Beyond the Jordan Site of Jesus Baptism: A
Threatened Site," Journal of Human Ecology 43, no. 2 (2013).