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November 26, 2008

Bethlehem visitor numbers soar in 2008, says Israel

by Judith Sudilovsky
Ecumenical News International

JERUSALEM — The number of visitors to the city of Bethlehem increased by 96.5 percent in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in the previous year, statistics on Holy Land tourism released by the Israeli Civil Administration show.

Jericho, also on the West Bank, and famous for Jesus’ immortal story of the good Samaritan, has experienced a 42.3 percent increase in visitors in the same period, according to a Nov. 24 Israeli Ministry of Tourism press release.

The ministry said some 1,123,000 tourists and pilgrims had visited the two cities from the beginning of 2008 through September.

Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, is about 10 kilometers from Jerusalem. Although Bethlehem is under Palestinian control, Israel directs crossing into Bethlehem, which is in territory Israel captured from Jordanian control in 1967.

The Israeli Civil Administration attributes the visitor increase to a “significant improvement” in the security situation in the West Bank, and in the Palestinian Authority areas in particular, over the last two years. Israel also says the rise is due to an easing of movement restrictions for residents and visitors crossing between areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

Yet, local Palestinians still report long delays and harassment at border crossings.

The Israeli Tourism Ministry estimates that two million Christians will have visited Israel by the end of 2008, of whom one million will have been pilgrims. During Christmas celebrations over the past two years, Israel’s tourism ministry has posted a representative at the Bethlehem crossing in order to assist pilgrims who wish to visit Jesus’ birthplace.

“We are expecting even greater numbers in advance of the upcoming Christmas period, and we anticipate that a new record will be achieved,” said Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai, the civil administration head in the West Bank.

Israeli tourism minister Ruhama Avraham-Balila said the higher numbers were due largely to the increased sense of security felt by incoming visitors.

“Tourism stimulates economic growth, and therefore represents a challenge and a mutual interest to the two nations,” said Avraham-Balila. “We must work together to market the tourist destinations in Israel and the Palestinian Authority as attractive and appealing for the sake of both our nations.”

Still, Palestinians in the tourism industry say numbers can deceive regarding the economic boon visitors bring to Bethlehem, since the majority of pilgrims and tourists coming on tours to Bethlehem spend less than two hours in the town. They are said to quickly visit holy sites and some of the larger souvenir shops but bypass the smaller family-run shops and restaurants.