Petra bus attack exposes divisions within local Jordanian community
A recent attack on a tourist bus in Petra seems linked to ongoing tensions between the Bdoul and Layathna tribes, who compete with each other for revenues in Petra’s souvenir and tourism hospitality economy.
A gunman opened fire on a bus traveling through Umm Sayhoun, a village located 3 kilometers (2 miles) north of Petra, on Aug. 24. While the bus sustained material damage, the gunfire did not injure its driver and sole occupant. Prior to the incident, the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) used this vehicle to transport tour guides between Wadi Musa and Petra.
With 828,952 visitors in 2018, the city of Petra represents the cornerstone of Jordan’s tourism sector, whose total contribution to the country’s gross domestic product exceeds 19%.
Speaking to the Jordan Times on Aug. 24, PDTRA Chief Commissioner Suleiman Farajat said that no tourists were on the bus when the incident occurred. Farajat also announced via Facebook (post has been deleted since) on the same day that the security authorities had arrested the shooter, emphasizing that the shooting was “an isolated incident.”
Farajat’s statement conflicts with assertions about the incident made by members of the local community. Members of the Bdoul, a Bedouin tribe from Umm Sayhoun, and members of the Layathna tribe of Wadi Musa see a connection between the attack on the bus and ongoing tensions between the two groups, who compete with each other for revenues in Petra’s souvenir and tourism hospitality economy.
