RAMALLAH — Busily arranging the antiques in his small store within the Manger Sq. close to the Church of Nativity, Laith Adnan Sobh mentioned he hopes this vacation season can be totally different from the earlier Christmases in the course of the pandemic.
Over the previous two years, the pandemic has taken a heavy toll on his memento store, however this 12 months Sobh ordered extra wooden carvings to promote.
“I’m taking an opportunity right here. Ought to town go below lockdown once more just like the earlier two years, I’ll face new losses,” he instructed Al-Monitor. “We solely work in the course of the vacation season, and lacking the season means colossal losses for us,” Sobh mentioned.
“This 12 months, nevertheless, there was a restricted inflow of vacationers to town in the course of the month of November, which has barely improved the financial state of affairs. It’s not the most effective season however higher than nothing,” he added.
Sobh spoke fondly of pre-pandemic occasions, when vacationers flocked to town and his store.
“In 2019, we had unprecedented tourism numbers. My store was full of tourists from everywhere in the world. This 12 months, it’s actually vital for the Palestinian authorities to not shut down town. We will nonetheless depend on home tourism and native guests if town stays open,” he mentioned.
Bethlehem’s residents, a lot of whom depend on tourism for his or her livelihoods, need their metropolis to thrive in the course of the vacation season, however additionally they worry the menace introduced by the brand new COVID-19 variant.
Nina Atwan owns a Christmas ornament store within the coronary heart of town. She additionally instructed Al-Monitor that she has observed a slight enchancment this 12 months.
In the course of the previous two years, Atwan’s store had barely any prospects. “The festivity and Christmas spirit was lacking when town was closed,” she instructed Al-Monitor. “Our store doesn’t depend upon international tourism. Nevertheless, limiting the celebrations to locals … created a tragic environment that overshadowed the enjoyment of the vacations,” she added.
“The vacations imply cheerful and joyful festivities and environment that final for 2 months,” she mentioned. “Throughout this time, town radiates gentle and pleasure, one thing that has been lacking over the previous two years.”
In a Nov. 27 press convention, the Bethlehem Municipality introduced that with some well being precautions, public Christmas events would resume, together with a municipal Christmas tree and a 10-day Christmas market.
The following day, the Israeli authorities closed the international airport to international vacationers, a lot of whom would have visited the Palestinian territories, following the unfold of the brand new COVID-19 variant.
In response to Bethlehem Mayor Antoine Suleiman, nevertheless, public festivities will go on. “We have been anticipating good vacationer site visitors this 12 months. The closure of Israeli airports will tremendously have an effect on us, however won’t cease from celebrating,” Suleiman instructed Al-Monitor.
“Beneath the present circumstances, the occasions will primarily be restricted to native guests from the West Financial institution and occupied Jerusalem, and we’re actually pinning our hopes on Palestinians within the occupied territories to spice up town’s economic system,” he added.
He confused that the occasions can be held below strict public security measures, with temperature checks and masking necessities.
In 2019, town of Bethlehem recorded its highest international tourism numbers, with 3.5 million tourists flocking to town. The pandemic outbreak, nevertheless, introduced a serious setback to town, the place 80% of residents depend upon tourism.
Regardless of some home tourism, the sector has barely been saved afloat, based on Elias al-Arja, head of the Arab Accommodations Affiliation and proprietor of the Bethlehem Resort.
“We’re working to maintain inns open with the hope that issues will change for the higher,” he instructed Al-Monitor.
“There have been lodge reservations this month, albeit restricted. Some inns reopened rooms which have been closed for some time. However the Israeli determination to shut the airport killed our hopes. It appears that evidently COVID-19 will wreck the season for us as soon as extra, and reservations are prone to be canceled,” Arja mentioned.
