Hired as an external Community-Based Tourism (CBT) expert by the bidding company, my role encompassed the entire project life cycle — from the initial stages of crafting the bid proposal to the ultimate success of negotiating and winning the contract. Working closely with the bid-winning contractor, I contributed strategic insights and expertise to guide their operational role in the “Nabi Musa” project.
Throughout the engagement, I played a pivotal role in designing and planning various spaces, ensuring optimal functionality while preserving the site’s religious significance as a mosque. The goal was to transform “Nabi Musa” into an ecotourism community-based tourism hub and destination. This involved meticulous mapping of tourist flow, establishment of safety protocols, and collaborative creation of diverse experiences, such as hiking trails, cycling paths, camel riding trails, Bedouin nights, and sunrise outdoor yoga retreats, in coordination with the local Bedouin community. Additionally, I worked closely with the UNDP’s development contractor team, ensuring alignment between their work in renovation and infrastructure development and the project’s vision and objectives.
This collaborative effort involved coordination with architects, engineers, designers, community leaders, cultural heritage preservation consultants, as well as policy makers and governing authorities. Despite the unfortunate disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the project’s suspension, the collaborative spirit and strategic planning employed during this period remain a testament to the transformative potential of the “Nabi Musa” project in fostering sustainable growth in ecotourism for the region.
