The purpose of this research study is to analyse the state of the religious tourism product 

in Jordan from three main perspectives: To present the current state of religious tourism 

in Jordan through studying the tourism movement in the holy sites and analysing the potentials and future prospects. The relationship between the local community and these 

sites will be the second perspective from which the researcher will form the  study. A third perspective is studying the visitors’ satisfaction about the services presented to them and the evaluation of the current state of the selected holy sites, whether they are Islamic or Christian. 

The study was carried out at the Islamic and Christian sites of Jordan: five Christian holy sites are included, namely the Baptism Site, Mount Nebo, Our Lady of the Mountain, and the shrines of Mar Elijah and Mukawir. The Vatican recognized these holy sites as pilgrimage places in 2000. Eight Islamic holy sites are included too, namely, the shrines of Ja’far bin Abi Taleb, Zaid ibn Harithah, Abdallah bin Rawahah, Abu Ubaydah Amir ibn al-Jarrah, Mu’ath bin Jabal, Shurhabil bin Husnah, Amir bin Abi Waqqas, and Dirar bin al-Azwar. 

The selection of these  sites was based on their religious and tourist significance, both Islamic and Christian. In addition, these sites, according to statistics obtained from Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, are the most targeted by tourists and pilgrims for religious purposes and motives. The researcher obtained data by implementing different tools of study and research; most data depend on national and international statistics, indices of tourism and religious tour-

ism in particular. In addition, literature on religious tourism helped in formulating the structure of the research, although the shortage of Arabic and English references was remarkable. Therefore, the researcher hopes that this study will be a good addition and asset to the literature of religious tourism in Jordan. The researcher’s observations were a significant tool in this study and he made valuable observations that could play an important role in developing the religious tourism product in the kingdom if they are well implemented. The researcher conducted very fruitful qualitative research (interviews) with officials working in the field of tourism and, in particular, religious tourism, and he did a lot of interviews with visitors,tourists, and pilgrims at the holy sites, local communities around the holy sites, directors of the holy sites, directors of tourism directorates and religious men (Imams1 or priests). 211 self completed questionnaires were filled during the study period (from the beginning of May to the end of August 2009) to analyse religious tourism at the sites from many different perspectives. The questionnaires were analysed with the programme SPSS 17.0, and the interviews were analysed with the help of the programme MAXQDA 10. In other words, the researcher used both qualitative and quantitative methods of research. 

The main results of the research can be summarized as follows: The vast majority of those who responded to the questionnaire (83.3%) believe that understanding common religious heritage is a factor upon which dialogue and a better coexistence between religions can begin to take place in a part of our world which suffers a lot of problems based on religious conflicts. Less than 1% of the respondents gave a negative answer to this question, which indicates that there are strong feelings for understanding and building relationships based on common religious heritage. This is an important finding because it reiterates the role that common religious heritage has in the 

promotion of religious sites and the bringing together of people from different religious 

backgrounds. Christians were found among the Muslims in the Islamic holy sites and vice versa; this encourages the idea of the common religious heritage and its effect on the convergence and understanding between the people of different religions. However, there is one problem and this is related to visitors from Israel, but this is because of the well known political reasons and not due to religious beliefs of the people. The main purpose and also the main incentive for the tourists and  visitors to visit the holy sites are prayer and worship which are from religious motives. Holy sites in Jordan are places of prayer and worship which also provide some form of relaxation and entertainment. When asked with whom visitors usually go to the religious sites, it was reported that 58.8% usually go to the holy sites with their families. It could be concluded from this percentage that religious tourism is also connected to family tourism. For this reason, the government and officials should take care to provide for the needs and services that are suitable for families at the holy sites.

List of Contents 

Abstract  9   

Zusammenfassung  13   

Acknowledgements  16   

Dedication  18   

 

11   General Information on the Field of the Study: Jordan    19 

12   Aims of the Study  25 

13   Background of the Research  26 

14   Research Area  29 

15   Research problems and challenges  34 

16   Outline of the Research  35 

 

Chapter 2 â€" Conceptual Context  38 

21      Introduction  38 

22      Pаst Rеsеаrch  39 

23     DеfÑ"nÑ"ng RеlÑ"gÑ"ous Tourism  45 

24     MotÑ"vаtÑ"ons for Religious Travel  47 

241  RеlÑ"gÑ"ous MotÑ"vation  50 

242  Culturаl MotÑ"vation  51 

243  PÑ"lgrÑ"mаgе MotÑ"vation  52 

25      Pilgrimage  54 

251  Definitions of Pilgrimage  55 

252  Distinctions between Tourism and Pilgrimage  57 

26      Conclusion  58 

 

31   Introduction to the Methodology  60 

32   Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods  60 

33   Initial Background Reading   66 

34   Primary Data Collection  67 

35   Research Limitations  69 

351  Population and Gender  69 

352   Foreign and Official Perspectives  71 

41  Social, political and economic conditions as a framework  73 

411  Social Conditions  73 

412  Political Conditions  74 

413  Economic Conditions  77 

42  Tourism in Jordan  78 

421  Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA)  79 

422  Jordan Tourism Board (JTB)  80 

423  Jordan National Tourism Strategy 2004â€"2010  80 

424  National Tourism Strategy 2011-2015  81 

43  Religious Tourism (Faith Tourism)  83 

44  Religious Sites of Jordan  88 

44 1   Christian Holy Sites  89 

4411  The Baptism Site  89 

4412  Mount Nebo (The Memorial of Moses)  92 

4413  Mukawir  94 

4414  Our Lady of the Mount  96 

4415  Tal Mar Elias (Shrine of the Prophet Elijah)  97 

442  Islamic Holy Sites   99 

4421  The Shrine of Abu Ubaydah Amir ibin al-Jarrah   99 

4422  The Shrine of Mu’ath bin Jabal  100 

4423  The Shrine of Shurhabil bin Husnah  101 

4424  The Shrine of Amir bin Abi Waqqas  102 

4425  The Shrine of  Dirar bin al-Azwar    103 

4426  The Shrine of Ja’far bin abi Taleb  104 

4427  The Shrine of Zaid bin al-Harithah   104 

4428  The Shrine of Abdallah bin Rawahah  106 

45  Effects of Common Religious Heritage  106 

46  Papal Visits to Jordan  109 

47  Role of the Hashemite Family concerning the Holy Places in Jordan  111 

 

Chapter 5 â€" Religious Tourism in Jordan:  

       Present State, development and Prospects  113 

51  Introduction  113 

52  Results from the quantitative part of the analysis   114 

521  Tourists’ Perception of Common Religious Heritage  115 

522   The Purpose of Visiting the Holy Sites  116 

523   Repeat Visits to Holy Sites  117 

524   Constituents of Groups on Visits to Holy Sites  117 

525  Means by Which Visitors Learned of Holy Sites  118 

526  Holy Sites Most Visited in Jordan  119 

527  Length of Stay at the Holy Sites  120 

528   Recommending the Holy Sites to Others  121 

529   The Best Season for Visiting the Holy Sites  122 

5210   Demographics:  123 

5211   Satisfaction with Services  129 

53  Suggestions collected from the quantitative part of the study  135 

54   Results from the qualitative part of the research: Interviews  136 

541  Present situation, actual problems and prospected development of Jordan’s religious tourism sector  137 

542  Perspectives from Travel Agents  145 

543  Importance of Tourism Promotion and Future Development  148 

544  Promotion and the Common Religious Heritage  153 

545  Promotion and the Trails  154 

547  Results from the qualitative part of research: Participant Observation  156 

55  Conclusion  159 

 

61   Introduction   160 

611   Strengths   160 

612   Weaknesses  161 

613   Opportunities  163 

614   Threats  164  

62   Conclusion   165 

71  Conclusions  166 

72  Assumptions  169 

73  Recommendations  171 

 

Appendix 1:  Questionnaire in English  185 

Appendix 2:  Questionnaire in Arabic  188 

Appendix 3:  Map of Abraham Path  191 

Appendix 4:  Map of the Holy Sites of Jordan  192 

Appendix 5:  Travel Guide to Holy Sites in Israel and in the Palestinian Territories  

(in English and German)  193 

Appendix 6:  Biblical Jordan: A Programme of Visit to the Holy Sites in Jordan  197 

Appendix 7:  Another Programme of Visit to the Holy Sites of Jordan  200 

Appendix 8:  Example of Interview Questions   204

Table 21:  The seven elements of tourist motivational theory  49 

Table 22:   The Pilgrim-Tourist Path   50 

Table 41:  Increase in the receipts and the number of tourists  78 

Table 42:  Number of tourists from 2003â€"2008  100 

Table 51:  Tourists’ Perception of Common Religious Heritage  115 

Table 52:  The purpose of the visit-pray and worship  116 

Table 53:   The purpose of the visit- relaxation and entertainment  116 

Table 54:  Number of times you visit a holy site  117 

Table 55:  Going to the holy site with family  118 

Table 56:  Learning about holy sites- general information  118 

Table 57:  Learning about holy sites- internet  119 

Table 58:  Did you visit Baptism Site?  120 

Table 59:  Did you visit Abu Ubaydah Shrine  120 

Table 510:   Did you visit Mount Nebo?  120 

Table 511:  Length of Stay at the Holy Sites  121 

Table 512:  Recommending the holy sites to others  122 

Table 513:  The Best Season for Visiting the Holy Sites  122 

Table 514:  The age of the tourists  123 

Table 515:  The marital status  124 

Table 516:  The gender  125 

Table 517:  The educational qualification  126 

Table 518:  Tourists and their religion in Baptism site  127 

Table 519:  Tourists and their religion in Abu Ubaydah Shrine  128 

Table 520:  Tourists and their religion in Mount Nebo  128 

Table 521:  Signs to the sites  129 

Table 522:   Parking  130 

Table 523:   Tourist information centre  130 

Table 524:   Accessibility  130 

Table 525:  Availability of information about the site  131 

Table 526:  Entrance fees  131 

Table 527:  Cleanliness  131 

Table 528:  Security and safety  132 

Table 529:   Prices and quality of gifts and souvenirs  132 

Table 530:   Food and drink services  133 

Table 531:  Hospitability  133

Table 532:  Facilities inside the site  133 

Table 533:  Social life at the holy site  134 

Table 534:  Places of pray and worship inside the holy sites  134 

Table 535:  Tourist guides accompanying the tourists to the holy sites  134 

Table 536:  Your visit in general  135 

 

Photo 41:  Pilgrimage day at the Baptism Site   89 

Photo 42:  Pope Benedict XVI with the King and Queen of Jordan  

during the opening of a church at the Baptism Site, 2009   91 

Photo 43:  On the top of Mount Nebo   93 

Photo 44:   Tourists and pilgrims entering Mount Nebo, Moses Shrine   93  

Photo 45:  On the top of the Mountain where John the Baptist was beheaded   85 

Photo 46:  Shrine of the Lady of our Mount   97 

Photo 47:   Icon in the shrine of Our Lady of the Mount depicting miracle  

in which a statue of Virgin Mary wept blood  97 

Photo 48:  Shrine of the Prophet Elijah, the entrance of the site   98 

Photo 49:  Abu Ubaydah Amir ibin al-Jarrah  Shrine  100 

Photo 410:  The tomb inside the shrine   101 

Photo 411:  Mu’ath bin Jabal Shrine   102 

Photo 412:  Shurahbil bin Husnah Shrine   102 

Photo 413:  Amir bin Abi Waqqas Shrine  103  

Photo 414:  The services which can be found in most of the Islamic holy sites   103 

Photo 415:  Dirar bin al-Azwar   104 

Photo 416:  Ja’far bin Abi Taleb Shrine and Zaid bin al-Harithah Shrine  

within a single wall  105 

Photo 417:   A multi-lingual sign post used in the two shrines  105 

Photo 418:   Abdallah bin Rawahah Shrine   105 

Photo 419:   Churches beside mosques in Jordan   108 

Photo 420:   The Pope Benedict XVI visited Jordan in 2009  110 

Photo 51:  The tree that is believed to have provided shade for the Prophet  

Muhammad when he travelled to Damascus with his uncle Abu Taleb   143 

List of Maps 

Map 11:   Arab Countries in Africa and Asia   20 

Map 12:   Borders of the Holy Land  22 

Map 13:   Silk Route  23 

Map 14:   borders of Jordan from 1949-1967  24 

Map 15:   borders of Jordan after 1967  24 

Map 16:   Study area Christian Pilgrimage Sites  30 

Map 17:   Study area of Islamic Holy Sites  32 

Map 41:   The Twelve Governorates of Jordan  76 

 

Figure 21:  A typology of motivators in tourism  48 

Figure 41:  Goals of religious tourism  108 

Figure 51:  The Age  123 

Figure 52:  Marital Status  124 

Figure 53:  The Gender  124 

Figure 54:  Education Levels  125 

Figure 55:  Nationalities of Tourists  126

ABC  Arab Banking Cooperation 

AIR  American Institutes for Research 

BSC  Baptism Site Commission, Jordan 

BTI   Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index  

CAGR  Compound Annual Growth Rate 

CIA         Central Intelligence Agency 

CRS  Congressional Research Service 

DoA  Department of Antiquities, Jordan 

DoS  Department of Statistics, Jordan 

FAI   Franciscan Archaeological Institute, Jordan 

FDI   Foreign Direct Investment  

GDP  Gross Domestic Product 

GIS  Geographic Information System 

HDI  Human Development Index 

IMF  International Monetary Fund 

ITB  Internationale Tourismus-Börse (International Tourism Fair) in Berlin 

JD  Jordan Dinar 

JNTS  Jordan’s National Tourism Strategy 

JTB  Jordan Tourism Board 

KAAD  Katholischer Akademischer Ausländer-Dienst   

(Catholic Academic Exchange Service) 

MoTA  Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan 

SPM  Strategic Master Plan 

SPSS  Statistical Package for Social Sciences 

UNWTO  United Nations World Tourism Organisation 

VTC                Vocational Training Centre  

WHS  World Heritage Site 

WTTC  World Travel and Tourism Council