Bethlehem sees Christmas tourism boost after Covid hiatus

• Thousands of tourists are expected for a Christmas march in Bethlehem.
• The streets have been more crowded after two years of subdued celebrations.
• Israel and the occupied West Bank celebrate after months of deadly warfare.

After the town’s economy was severely impacted by lockdowns, tens of thousands of tourists are anticipated to congregate in Bethlehem for a Christmas procession.

Although the streets have been more crowded after two years of subdued celebrations, numbers have not reached the peak set in 2019.

Later, a midnight Mass will be held at the Nativity Church from the fourth century for Palestinian Christians and pilgrims.

Celebrations take place after a deadly uptick in violence in Israel and the occupied West Bank.

Before midnight Mass at the neighboring Church of the Nativity, which is located on the place where it is thought that Jesus Christ was born, scout bands playing bagpipes and drummers escorting church authorities arrived in Manger Square after travelling from Jerusalem.

The first location in Christianity still in use as a place of worship is the grotto inside the church.

There are tourists from all around the world who are with the Palestinian Christians who have come from as far as Galilee and the Gaza Strip.

Although the number of visitors is still below the record level witnessed in 2019, the streets are crowded, and exactly like in the Nativity tale, all of the nearby hotels are completely filled.

Even though local businesspeople are hopeful about the economy’s revival, they are also worried about how the recent uptick in violence between Israelis and Palestinians would affect things and how the policies of the upcoming far-right Israeli government may exacerbate existing tensions.

Benjamin Netanyahu is re-elected to a record-breaking sixth term in office under the new administration, which is thought to be the most right-wing in Israel’s history.

Israel claimed earlier this month that a 16-year-old Palestinian girl was accidentally killed by its troops during a gunfight with militants in the occupied West Bank. According to Palestinian and Israeli sources, five Palestinian men were killed by Israeli forces in four different events in the occupied West Bank in November.

For Rayson Kamalayos visiting from India, it is a “dream” to be in Bethlehem.

“We as Christians are blessed to come here, I am happy to be here,” he added.

Following record tourism numbers in 2019, expectations for an even better 2020 were high, but those expectations were shattered when Covid resulted in stringent lockdowns throughout the occupied West Bank.

People had to remain indoors at such time from 19:00 to 06:00 every night and all day on Fridays and Saturdays, the Palestinian weekend, which prevented holiday family reunions.

It was forbidden to watch the parade from crowded balconies with friends and family.

“The occupancy rate was over 90%. Everyone was investing in this sector… Now, it’s dead. It’s very sad to see,” Mariana al-Arja, a hotel manager, told the Media two years ago.

But now Bethlehem, where the economy is reliant on tourism, is seeing “more and more tourists”, said Palestinian Tourism Minister Rola Maayah.

“Last year we celebrated Christmas during the pandemic and without any tourists.

“This year, we are celebrating Christmas with tourists that arrive to Palestine, to Bethlehem from all over the world.”

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