Ramzi Sabella, who runs a small store near the Church of the Nativity, notes that tourism is drastically down, stating, 'Now only a few locals come by sometimes, and they usually buy the cheapest products. They don't have any money either.' His store, once bustling with Christmas shoppers, now sees very few visitors, impacting his sales drastically during what used to be a peak season for tourism.
The local hotel association reported a significant drop in bed occupancy rates, falling from around 80% before the war to just 3% now, highlighting the severe impact on local economies that rely heavily on tourism. This drastic decline signifies how the ongoing conflict has deeply affected the flow of visitors to Bethlehem, particularly during the Christmas season.
Collection
[
|
...
]