The hospitality sector in Bethlehem calls upon the Church Leaders

Since the Birth of Jesus Christ in the town of Bethlehem, Palestinian Christians followed on the legacy of being the first hosts of all the faithful visiting the scared places in this Holy Land. Bethlehem people and businesses are proud to have been the hosts of our Lord in the most famous Inn, and today to his followers at the hotels of Bethlehem.

Since the beginning of the last Intfiada, the hotel sector in particular was hit and almost bankrupt due to the complete suspension of the tourism movement into the city. In the Bethlehem area there are 18 hotels with more than 1800 rooms owned and run by Christian families of the area. The average current occupancy rates of these hotels in 2005 did not reach 4% as per the Central Bureau of Statistics and in 2006 did not reach more than 9%. From the International levels of breakeven in the hotel business, which is 40%, one can easily realize the devastating future awaiting these businesses, and the people involved who are accounted for 1000 employees at least.

Although the tourism movement has regained some of its normal levels in the Holy Land during the current
year, but still the hotels in Bethlehem are empty due to many reasons. One main reason being the new checkpoint at the Bethlehem entrance. Travel agents and tour operators are reluctant to accommodate the tourists in Bethlehem while at the same time they cannot but include Bethlehem in their tour or otherwise the tour will be incomplete from a Christian perspective. From experience, we can tell that the checkpoint is not a real touristic obstacle because tourists are crossing it anyway to visit Bethlehem once or twice during their Holy Land tour. So, Why not overnight in Bethlehem?

Bethlehem has been always safe for tourists and pilgrims visiting the city through out history. We have a clean
record in tourist safety. Not a single tourist was hurt during tour in Bethlehem or Palestine.

We, the hotel owners and employees in Bethlehem call upon the Church leaders and Church related
organizations to call upon their international contacts, friends and faithful believers to insist to an overnight in Bethlehem during their tour and we promise them the best of Palestinian hospitality.

Neglecting this call will put up more pressure on the callers to leave their beloved city forever once they have the chance. Please take it as your personal and Christian call to support the hospitality sector in your city Bethlehem and live up to the Lord's expectations by bringing the pilgrims to live the Word of God in the City of God.

July 5, 2006   Posted in: Israel