عربي
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities issue a press release on the occasion of World Tourism Day, 27/09/2019
World Tourism Day, which is annually celebrated on September 27th around the world, is a unique opportunity to raise awareness on tourism’s actual and potential contribution to sustainable development.
The "Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future for All" is the theme of World Tourism Day this year, where it aims to create and ensure equitable employment to increase social inclusion, peace and security. In this regard, tourism has enormous potential and responsibility as a sector with a large component of human capital. The theme is in line with the “Future of Work”.
The number of workers in activities related to the tourism sector reached 37,700, with a percentage of 4% out of the total employees in Palestine. The number is distributed from the West Bank by 29,000 (4%) and from Gaza Strip by 8,700 (3%).
Increase in Inbound Visits to the West Bank during the First Half of 2019
Bethlehem and Jerusalem governorates are the main holy destinations for tourists coming to Palestine, due to their religious significance for followers of divine religions in general and Christian pilgrims in particular.
During the first half of 2019, tourist sites in the West Bank witnessed an active movement of inbound visitors, resulting in 1,726,560 visits to tourist sites in the West Bank. The number of visits by inbound visitors during the first half of this year increased by 17% compared to the same period of the previous year, and increased by 23% compared to the first half of 2017.
Bethlehem Governorate got the highest percentage of inbound visits with 38%, followed by Jericho & Al-Aghwar Governorate with 35%, while the percentages in Jenin and Nablus Governorates were 10% for each, 7% were from other Governorates.
Palestinians residing in territory 1948 accounted for the largest proportion of inbound visitors by 41% with 714 thousand visits, followed by arrivals from the USA by 7% with 117 thousand visits, Russian Federation by 6% with 99 thousand visits, Romania by 5% with 83 thousand visits and then Poland by 4% with 72 thousand visits, while 37% were from other nationalities with 641 thousand visits.
More than 363 Thousand Guests Spent More than One Million Nights during the First Half of 2019
The number of hotel guests in the West Bank reached 363,385 in the first half of 2019, where they spent 1,021,567 nights. The percentage of hotel guests in the first half of 2019 increased by 21% compared with the first half of 2018, while it increased by 40% compared with the first half of 2017. The below table shows the number of hotel guests in the West Bank during the first half of the years (2017-2019).
Palestinians residing in territory 1948 accounted for the largest proportion of inbound visitors by 41% with 714 thousand visits, followed by arrivals from the USA by 7% with 117 thousand visits, Russian Federation by 6% with 99 thousand visits, Romania by 5% with 83 thousand visits and then Poland by 4% with 72 thousand visits, while 37% were from other nationalities with 641 thousand visits.
More than 363 Thousand Guests Spent More than One Million Nights during the First Half of 2019
The number of hotel guests in the West Bank reached 363,385 in the first half of 2019, where they spent 1,021,567 nights. The percentage of hotel guests in the first half of 2019 increased by 21% compared with the first half of 2018, while it increased by 40% compared with the first half of 2017. The below table shows the number of hotel guests in the West Bank during the first half of the years (2017-2019).
Number of Guests by Nationality, First Half of (2017-2019)
|
Nationality |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Palestine |
20,961 |
17,119 |
27,231 |
|
Territory 1948 |
33,875 |
30,549 |
33,283 |
|
Asia |
54,427 |
61,114 |
73,820 |
|
USA & Canada |
24,247 |
24,463 |
29,054 |
|
European Union |
96,274 |
139,033 |
162,695 |
|
Other EU Countries |
14,204 |
14,062 |
13,638 |
|
Other Countries |
15,847 |
15,082 |
23,664 |
|
Total |
259,835 |
301,422 |
363,385 |
Bethlehem Governorate is the First Governorate in Terms of Inbound Visitors followed by Jerusalem Governorate
While the total number of guests was distributed by governorate as follows: 64% in Bethlehem governorate; 16% in Jerusalem governorate; 6% in Jericho & Al-Aghwar governorate, 5% in Ramallah & Al-Bireh governorate, 4% in Nablus governorate and 5% in other West Bank governorates.
While the total number of guests was distributed by governorate as follows: 64% in Bethlehem governorate; 16% in Jerusalem governorate; 6% in Jericho & Al-Aghwar governorate, 5% in Ramallah & Al-Bireh governorate, 4% in Nablus governorate and 5% in other West Bank governorates.
In June 2019, there were 132 hotels in the West Bank comprising 7,279 available rooms with 15,946 beds.
Increase in Inbound Tourism Consumption in Palestine during 2017
The final findings of the Tourism Satellite Accounts for 2017 indicated that total consumption of inbound tourism showed an increase by 27% in Palestine compared to 2016. The consumption of inbound tourism totaled USD 1,019.3 million in the year 2016 (including both overnight stay visitors and same day visitors) compared to USD 1,297.5 million in the year 2017, this increase was due to the increase in the number of overnight stay visitors by 23%.
Increase in Inbound Tourism Consumption in Palestine during 2017
The final findings of the Tourism Satellite Accounts for 2017 indicated that total consumption of inbound tourism showed an increase by 27% in Palestine compared to 2016. The consumption of inbound tourism totaled USD 1,019.3 million in the year 2016 (including both overnight stay visitors and same day visitors) compared to USD 1,297.5 million in the year 2017, this increase was due to the increase in the number of overnight stay visitors by 23%.