Petra’s experience teaches that conservation without community inclusion doesn’t work for long. Removing the people who once cared for the land broke the connection between culture and nature.
Lessons:
- Relocation without livelihood alternatives creates dependency and tension.
- Tourism that ignores local participation leads to informal economies and conflict.
- Traditional knowledge and CBT principles could support both conservation and fairness.
Recommendations:
- Community Partnership: PDTRA should include Bedoul representatives in planning and decision-making.
- Education & Training: Provide training on sustainable guiding, waste management, and storytelling in multiple languages.
- Income Diversification: Support Bedoul-run cooperatives for crafts, eco-tours, and desert hikes that spread tourism benefits more equally.
- Awareness Programs: Teach conservation values through schools and workshops inside Umm Sayhoun.
- Cultural Inclusion: Recognize the Bedoul heritage as part of Petra’s narrative, not separate from it.
These steps align with CBT goals: community ownership, participation, and benefit-sharing. They could help rebuild trust and make tourism both ethical and sustainable.