Russian president Vladimir Putin, visited Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the Baptismal site of Jesus Christ, on Tuesday 13th February, during an official visit to Jordan.

Putin toured the area and visited St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church, accompanied by the King’s Personal Envoy and Special Adviser HRH Prince Ghazi Ben Mohammad, who is chairperson of the Baptism Site board of trustees, and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Osama Dabbas.

Putin said the Russian government will finance the construction of a guest house for Russian pilgrims on a 10.000 sq meter plot on the east bank of the Jordan River, which will be managed by the Russian Orthodox Church.

In addition, the Baptism Site board has agreed to the establishment of churches for other Christian denominations in the biblical site of Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan.

The number of overnight visitors from Russia to Jordan highly increased in the last years rising from 4,001 visitors in 2002 to 19,564 in 2006. Jordan
Tourism Board is making great efforts to increase the numbers more through promotional efforts and campaigns in the Russian market.

Russian travelers are largely attracted by the religious sites Jordan has to offer and most notably the baptism site of Jesus Christ on River Jordan. Situated in the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, the visitors are also in proximity of another of their favourites in terms of wellness: the Dead Sea spas

The site of John the Baptist's settlement at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was baptised, has long been known from the Bible (John 1:28 and 10:40) and from the Byzantine and medieval texts.

The site has now been identified on the east bank of the Jordan River, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and is being systematically surveyed, excavated, restored, and prepared to receive pilgrims and visitors. Bethany Beyond the Jordan is located half an hour by car from the Jordanian capital Amman.

The Bethany area sites formed part of the early Christian pilgrimage route between Jerusalem, the Jordan River, and Mount Nebo.   
The area is also associated with the biblical account of how the Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias in Arabic) was ascended to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire.

In 2004, and due to the importance of the Russian travel market to Jordan, the JTB launched a marketing representative office in the Russian Federation to promote Jordan as a travel destination.