Some retailers complain about high security at Jerash festival, others upbeat over turnout

JERASH — Some retailers at the Jerash Handicraft Marketplace  see in the annual cultural festival an opportunity to reach new customers and rejuvenate the northern city.

Others, however, are concerned that the hightened security at the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts would be bad for business.

The 31st Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts opened on Thursday and continues through July 31 at the ancient Greco-Roman city, some 48km north of Amman. 

Retailers see the event as an opportunity to increase their sales by opening their shops at night or opening new stalls inside the ancient city. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Thursday, Jerash Mayor Ali Qoqazeh noted that this year’s festival was held during a time of heightened security fears in the region.     

“As the world is busy with war and fighting Jordan still celebrates culture and art under the safety provided by the country’s security bodies and its institutions,” Qoqazeh said.

Within the security measures in place, some gates to the marketplace have been closed, leading to complaints from some vendors. 

“They’ve shut the gate that leads to the section where my shop is, forcing me to close my shop and wait until the end of the festival to reopen,” said Mohammad Otoum, a shop owner at the marketplace.

“The festival has brought no commercial benefits for two reasons: the attendance of the festival is too low compared to previous years, due to the regional and even the international situation and the strict security procedures have shortened our opening hours,” he added.

Mustafa Otoum, a Jerash resident, said the heightened security measures around the festival’s venue causes some inconvenience for locals.

“Noise, traffic jams and having to drive for longer than usual due to road closures around the ancient city: this is what we get from the festival,” Otoum charged.

But other shop owners were more upbeat, and said the festival brought new opportunities to the city.

“The Jerash festival is a chance for me to showcase and sell my home-made food, herbs and spices,” Rasheed Bani Mustafa said.

Shop owner Khalid Zou’bi also said the festival boosted his sales. 

“In addition to my permanent souvenir shop, every year I open another temporary shop inside the ancient city where I exhibit handmade souvenirs and paintings. I recruit some of my unemployed relatives and I make more money during the ten-day event,” Zou’bi said.