As part of the launch of our Eco-Tourism Program at Project Wadi Attir, we have recently completed installation of our traditional Bedouin hospitality tent.
Finishing touches…
From its inception, Project Wadi Attir was intended as a blend of the traditional and the futuristic. This means that the planned enterprises rely both on elements inherent to the Bedouin tradition—herding, dairy production, herbal healing, and more—but also on newer aspects of Bedouin economy—like tourism, which comprises the main way that people from outside the country interact with Bedouin society, mainly through charming, but often superficial visits to “Bedouin tents.”
The installation of our traditional hospitality tent onsite represents a different kind of interaction with the Bedouin community, one that begins in the tent, but expands outwards to so much more. By strengthening its eco-tourism infrastructure, the project is providing an opportunity for young Bedouin leaders to present an authentic picture of their past, present and future through an immersive onsite experience, enriching the iconic Bedouin tent visit with a tour through a productive, technologically-advanced, sustainable desert farming community.
Visitors to the site in our freshly-installed, as yet unfurnished, hospitality tent
This is just the beginning! By fostering deeper connections and understanding between visitors and members of the Project Wadi Attir team, and by presenting a rooted, but forward-facing vision of the Bedouin community, we believe we can begin to combat years of marginalization in Israeli society and in the world at large, and contribute to greater community empowerment, economic development and well-being.
Yunes and Amran with the BGU Team of Designers, including Prof. Isaac Meir (far right)