The biggest challenge is exclusion. The Bedoul have little formal power, limited licenses, and face daily clashes with authorities. Their work is often labelled illegal even though tourism would not function without their knowledge of the site (Salameh, 2022).
Dalal Salameh explained that the Bedoul understand exactly how valuable Petra is to Jordan’s economy. Their defiance comes not from ignorance but from a feeling of ownership: “They see themselves as the ones most deserving of benefiting from it” (personal communication, 2025).
Some tourists complain about “scams” or pushy sales tactics — like being told they can’t enter an area without a guide (DW Travel, 2022). But these behaviours reflect survival mechanisms more than greed. When tourism planning excludes locals, informal systems appear naturally. This shows how CBT could help by turning those informal roles into official, trained, and fairly paid ones.
Despite difficulties, a few small successes exist. Some Bedoul families have obtained official guiding licenses or started small community shops. Their handmade crafts, camel rides, and oral storytelling are still what many tourists remember most. Those genuine encounters prove the potential of a community-based approach.