Bethlehem is preparing to receive Christmas visitors again

Shopkeepers are optimistic about the future of tourism in the town because of the influx of foreign guests.

Even though the city of Bethlehem struggled for two years due to the coronavirus outbreak, business is picking up just in time for the Christmas season.

According to Elias Arja, director of the Bethlehem Hotel Association, travellers are now ready to visit the Holy Land's sacred attractions. He believes that next year will see the upturn continue. The manager of the BHA predicted that business will be brisk in 2023 because many people, particularly Christians, would want to make a pilgrimage back to the Holy Land.

Recently, hundreds of tourists from all over the world flocked to the place where Christians believe Jesus was born to take pictures in front of the Church of the Nativity. Nearby, in Manger Square, a huge Christmas tree glowed as travellers shopped for olive wood crosses and other handicrafts to take home as souvenirs.

Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank immediately south of Jerusalem, sees a swell of visitors during the holiday season. Many people travelled from far and wide to join in the festivities before the outbreak hit. However, during the pandemic, the visitor numbers dropped drastically. Nevertheless, even if the tourism industry hasn't entirely recovered, the influx of international tourists is promising.

Without a local airport, most people visiting Palestine must first pass via Israel. An estimated 120 thousand Christian visitors are expected by Israel's tourism board during the week of Christmas. To facilitate travel between Jerusalem and Bethlehem for tourists on Christmas Eve, the ministry will, as in years past, provide special shuttle buses.

About 150,000 people visited the town in 2019. In light of the recent coronavirus outbreak, Mayor Hanna Hanania of Bethlehem expressed hope that things will return to pre-outbreak levels this year and even improve in the future. He added that over 15,000 people saw the recent lighting of Bethlehem's Christmas tree, and that this year's festivities would include foreign delegations, art performers, as well as various musicians.

The Nativity Church and the nearby Shepherds' Square and Grotto are the city's most visited landmarks. Rachel's Tomb is also located near Bethlehem.

Many Christian visitors to Israel make the pilgrimage to Bethlehem each year, as they often combine trips to Jerusalem with Bethlehem, a place that offers interesting history, commerce, and restaurants for visitors of all faiths.

 

Source: aljazeera.com, itraveljerusalem.com