TEHRAN - The tourism industry in the Palestinian territories has faced severe setbacks due to the intense military raids conducted by the Zionist regime of Israel.

Official data reveals that tourism in the Palestinian territories has suffered an estimated $200 million decline in revenue due to Israel’s aggression, resulting in substantial economic losses, job cuts, and closures of hospitality establishments, the New Arab reported.

The impact has been particularly severe in Bethlehem, where tourism has plummeted by 100 percent, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Economy. Ongoing closures and intensified raids, exacerbated by Israel’s conflict, have led to significant financial losses, amounting to millions of shekels.

In Bethlehem alone, 78 hotels, 90 antique stores, and 450 crafts operators have experienced substantial losses, forcing many to halt operations entirely, experts reported.

Samir Hazboun, head of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the dire situation, noting that only 118 tourists have checked into Bethlehem’s hotels this month, despite the city having approximately 5,700 hotel rooms.

“Hotel and tourism activities have been severely affected, with commercial factories operating at only 30 percent of their production capacity,” Hazboun told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab’s Arabic-language service.

Bethlehem, renowned as the birthplace of Jesus in Christian tradition, typically draws thousands of tourists and pilgrims annually, especially during the Christmas season. However, prior to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, the city had seen a significant increase in tourism, hosting around one and a half million visitors by September. However, the industry had already faced a downturn due to pandemic-related restrictions and lockdowns earlier in the year.

The repercussions of the decline in tourism have rippled across various sectors, impacting tour guides, photographers, pottery workshops, street vendors, restaurants, as well as clothing and souvenir shops, causing significant economic strain.

Elias Al-Arja, head of the Arab Hotels Association in Bethlehem, confirmed that nearly all hotels in the governorate have closed their doors. He highlighted the alarming situation, stating, “Only 400 out of 3,000 workers remain in the hotel tourism sector, and the financial losses in the tourism sector since the onset of the Gaza conflict amount to approximately 40 million shekels, a 100% loss compared to the usual annual income from the holiday period.”

The tourism sector, being among the most severely impacted by the Gaza conflict, faces a bleak outlook. Gaza’s death toll has risen to over 21,110 since October 7, with Israeli forces imposing a comprehensive blockade, depriving residents of essential resources like fuel, food, and water, further exacerbating the crisis. Unemployment has surged in Gaza, with almost 66 percent of jobs lost in the past two and a half months.

Al-Arja cautioned that a revival in the tourism sector may not be anticipated until at least six months after the conflict concludes, underscoring the absence of viable plans to rejuvenate the industry.

AFM