The hotel occupancy rate in Bethlehem does not exceed 20% until now.

Palestine Economy Portal

Translated by: Tamara Barakat

Experts say that the hotel occupancy rate in Bethlehem currently does not exceed over 20%, but they expect that it will increase as the Christmas holiday season approaches on December 24. Still, the occupancy rate will not reach its annual percentage.

George Abu Atia, Chair of Arab Hotel Association in Palestine, said that the occupancy rate in Bethlehem hotels is currently 20% because we have not reached the festive season yet. He expects the hotels to be fully booked after December 24, as the Christmas celebrations draw nearer.

At the same time, Atia expressed his fear over the effect of the current political events going on in Palestine due to the Israeli escalation on tourism in Bethlehem, since most of the tourists are either foreigners or Palestinians living in the 1948 Proper. 

He added that during the Christmas tree lighting ceremony held on Saturday, we have proven to the people attending the ceremony and those watching it on their television that the political conditions will not affect the City of Peace.

Moreover, Khaled Abu Hilal, Chair of General Union of Workers in Hotel and Tourism Services, also said that the hotel occupancy rate did not exceed 20% and that he fears that the hotel rooms will not be booked due to the current political situation.

According to data published by the Arab Hotel Association, the usual occupancy rate of hotels in normal situations reaches 90%. However, it will decrease to 75% or less because of the political situation.

There are 35 hotels in the three main cities of Bethlehem, Beit Jala, and Beit Sahour, containing 3500 rooms that can host up to 7000 people. There are also 5 religious hostels, and five new hotels still under construction – 2 of which are in Beit Jala, another 2 in Bethlehem, and one in Beit Sahour.

(Palestine Economy Portal)