ABSTRACT
Faynan is an isolated, rural region in southern Jordan. It is an area of natural beauty with one of the most important archaeological landscapes in SW Asia but is economically impoverished. During the last three decades, its Bedouin community has been expanding tomato and melon cultivation into a previously desert environment by using irrigation. This is gradually destroying Faynan’s cultural and natural heritage, diminishing its attractiveness for tourism that could provide a significant source of income for the Bedouin community. Archaeologists primarily based in the UK and United States have gained long-term benefits from their academic research in Faynan while providing little of lasting value to the local community. This chapter describes the development of a local museum in Faynan to attract tourism into the region, engage the local community in the cultural heritage of their landscape, and facilitate their own tourist initiatives such as developing trekking camps and providing guided walks. It describes the challenges posed by the tribal system in Faynan and the external events that occurred during the project development, notably COVID-19 and international tension throughout the Middle East.
