Greek grant to enhance tourism services, preserve Byzantine-era church

24 September 2008
MADABA - Segments of the Kingdom's rich and diverse heritage will be preserved and promoted under a landmark cooperation agreement between the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem and the Jordanian, Greek and US governments.

Under an agreement signed on Tuesday by the Planning Ministry, USAIDUSAID
, the Ministry of TourismMinistry of Tourism, the Department of Antiquities and the Greek patriarch of Jerusalem, the Greek government will provide Jordan with $720,000 through Hellenic Aid to enhance tourism services in the mosaic city of Madaba and to protect and preserve an ancient Byzantine-era church.

Martyr's Church, which was built in the 6th century and houses several mosaics and other artefacts, is one of four Byzantine churches built on the site now known as the Madaba Archaeological Park.

Yesterday's agreement entails constructing a shelter over the site and providing visitors with interpretation and visual guides describing the history of the church and its numerous mosaics, according to the USAIDUSAID- Jordan Tourism Development Programme.

The Greek grant will also finance renovation work on the visitor centre adjacent to St. George Church, home to the world-renowned mosaic map of the Holy Land so it can accommodate the growing number of tourists coming to the site.

In addition, the visitor centre will be refurbished and provided with an interpretation room, while a new documentary will be filmed detailing the historical significance of the plethora of tourist sites in and around the city.

Expressing his support for the project, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III yesterday said the agreement represents an example of "mutual cooperation and understanding", and a symbol of the "common humanity" that supports peace and stability.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Theodorus Kassimis also stressed his government's continued support for the Kingdom, particularly in protecting heritage sites.

Planning Minister Suhair Al-Ali, who met with Kassimis to discuss Jordanian-Greek ties earlier on Tuesday, underlined the importance of the agreement and cross-cultural understanding.

"Tourism is a key and vital sector of the economy, which creates job opportunities and generates foreign currency," she said, highlighting the "excellent" relations Greece and Jordan enjoy.

Also under the agreement, USAIDUSAID pledged $100,000 worth of technical assistance and expertise in renovating the two areas and providing a more visitor-friendly atmosphere.

"The United States and Jordan have been working together on the management of heritage and tourism experiences. Tourism plays a pivotal role in Jordan's economy, and we will continue supporting the development of this sector," US Ambassador Robert Stephen Beecroft said at the signing ceremony.

According to USAIDUSAID Mission Director Jay Knott, the agreement is just one of several steps the US has taken to support the tourism sector.

"Tourism is important in terms of our cooperation with the government. We see tourism as a growing economic sector particularly with cultural sites, which have great potential," Knott told The Jordan Times yesterday.

The agreement comes as part of ongoing efforts to transform Madaba into a tourism hub and encourage visitors to use the mosaic city as a base for their travels, with several cultural and religious sites a short drive away.

Under the Tourism MinistryTourism Ministry's Madaba Tourism Strategy, the Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art and Restoration was revamped, while infrastructure work is under way to repave streets and improve shop facades.

The St. George Church of Madaba saw a 104 per cent increase in visitors in the first seven months of this year, drawing 163,027 tourists through July.

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