Jordan Times
Friday, August 11, 2006
Religious tourism
receives boost with completion of Lot’s Museum
The museum is located some 300m from the cave where Lot and his
family are said to have sought refuge from the devastation of Sodom and
Gomorrah,
was developed as part of expanding tourism activities
By Dalya Dajani
AMMAN — The long-awaited Lot’s Museum at the Dead
Sea has now been completed, a project official said this week.
The museum’s local contractor, and project director, Amjad Madanat, told The
Jordan Times that all work on the museum had been completed and is currently
awaiting review by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT).
“We handed the MoT the official papers of completion on July 27 and are now
waiting for the technical committee to assess the work,” said Madanat.
“Based on the committee’s findings, the MoT then has up to 28 days to introduce
any modifications or additions it sees fit,” he added.
According to Madanat, the museum’s construction cost around JD1.250 million.
The two-storey shell-shaped museum, designed by local architects, was originally
scheduled to open in April last year.
The project was delayed due to modifications introduced by the MoT.
A second completion date, set for July, was also delayed due to a shortage of
funds, estimated at JD900,000.
One of the modifications requested by MoT was the construction of special
barriers to prevent damage to the museum in case of floods, which are common in
the Ghor area.
Lot’s Museum, located some 300 metres from the cave where Lot and his family are
said to have sought refuge from the devastation of Sodom and Gomorrah, was
developed as part of expanding tourism activities in the area.
Tourism development planners also regard the museum as a valuable exhibit that
will showcase the dazzling topography and unique geological facets of the area.
A committee comprising representatives from the Department of Antiquities, MoT,
the Jordan Valley Authority and geological experts from local universities will
be responsible for setting up the exhibit’s content.
The museum, which covers 2,150 square metres, also features a cafeteria, service
facilities, parking space for buses and cars and an office for tourist police.
Jordan is furnished with an abundance of Biblical and Islamic holy sites, in
addition to Lot’s cave, there is the nearby Baptism Site where Jesus is said to
have been anointed by John the Baptist and Mount Nebo, claimed to be the burial
site of Moses.
More than 75,000 tourists flocked to the Baptism Site last year alone,
constituting a 25 per cent increase on 2004 figures, generating JD350,000 in
tourism revenues.
Most of the tourists came on package tours from the US, Europe and East Asia.
Near Amman is the legendary Cave of the Seven Sleepers, where legend holds that
several persecuted Christian boys found shelter and slept there for 309 years.
Several companions of the Prophet Mohammad were also martyred and buried here.
Their tombs are considered significant destinations for Muslim pilgrims
The tombs of Jaafar Ben Abi Taleb and Zeid Ben Al Harithah — two leading
military commanders martyred in a battle in southern Jordan — are located in
Mazar near the famous Battle of Muta site.
Imam Zaid Ben Ali Ben Al Hussein, the great, great grandson of the Prophet
Mohammad, a religious leader also killed in battle, is buried in Karak.
MoT figures for the first five-month of this year indicate a 7.1 per cent
increase in the amount of tourist arrivals, compared to the same period last
year.