Bethlehem experiences Christmas tourism boost after covid dip as the future looks promising.
After two years of muted Christmas celebration, the streets of Jerusalem comes alive with Christmas tourism.
Though the numbers are not up to the record seen in 2019, the streets are bustling and local hotels are fully booked.
Palestinian Christians and pilgrims will be present at midnight mass at the century nativity church.
Scout bands players and drummers escorting church leaders entered the manger square after matching their way from Jerusalem ahead of midnight mass at the nearby church of the Nativity.
A place that is believed to be the site where Jesus Christ was born.
They probably said family gatherings as people had to stay indoors every night and throughout the entire build of the product.
Aside from the euphoria that comes with Christmas celebration, the joy of spending time with family and friends and the fun of the season.
Business people in Bethlehem are optimistic about an economic recovery as the numbers for Christmas tourism have increased from what they used to be during the covid period.
Read Here: Dangerous Winter storm sweeps across US and Canada
See the Economic impact of the covid dip and Christmas
A hotel manager had told BBC two years ago that the occupancy rate was over 90%. “Everyone was investing in this sector,… Now it is dead.” He added.
Local business owners estimated that after two years during the covid lockdown and airport blockage, the religious site in Bethlehem is almost deserted but tourism is now back at about 70% before the pandemic.
Even the Ambassador in Bethlehem was forced to cut down staffing from 48-8 but has started hiring again as the tourism economy boosts.
Some tourism companies are still short of staff because others left the tourism sector for other sectors as the pandemic dragged on.
However, business owners in Bethlehem are still hopeful and expect a quicker rebound. They expect that they will get back what they experienced 15 or 16 months ago.