Around 2.6 Million Visits to Tourist Sites in the West Bank During the First Half of 2013

On the occasion of World Tourism Day on September 27, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, presents the following facts on tourism in Palestine.

During the first half of 2013, around 2.6 million visits were made to tourist sites in the West Bank. These included 1.4 million visits by inbound visitors and 1.2 million visits by domestic visitors to gardens, parks and other tourism sites. The number of visits rose by 13% compared with the same period in 2012, but domestic visits fell by one percent.

Most inbound visits were to Bethlehem governorate with 47%, followed by Jericho and Al-Aghwar governorate with 29%, Jenin with 10% and Hebron governorate with 8%.

Palestinians residing in Israel made up the largest proportion of inbound visitors with 31%, followed by 19% from Russia, 6% from the United States, 5% from Poland and 3% each from Italy, India, Germany and Indonesia.

274 Thousand Hotel Guests Spent 656 Thousand Nights During theDuring the First Half of 2013

There were 274 thousand hotel guests in the West Bank during the first half of 2013, a drop of one percent compared with the first half of 2012; they spent 656 thousand nights.

The guests were distributed by region as follows: 46% in the South of the West Bank, 32% in Jerusalem hotels, 17% in the Middle of the West Bank and 5% in the North of the West Bank. 

There were 107 hotels in the West Bank in June 2013 comprising 5,936 rooms with 13,545 beds. There were 2,717 hotel employees, of whom 649 were female.

Average Spending of USD 47 on Domestic Trips and USD 1,456 on Outbound Trips in 2012

In Palestine, 35% of households (at least one household member) participated in a domestic trip during 2012: 20% in the West Bank compared to 62% in the Gaza Strip. The average household expenditure during domestic trips was USD 47: USD 66 in the West Bank compared to USD 42 in the Gaza Strip. Trips abroad were conducted by 11% of households (one member at least) during 2012: 13% of West Bank households compared to only 6% of households in the Gaza Strip. Average household expenditure during an outbound trip was USD 1,456, of which USD 442 was spent on shopping and USD 351 was spent on tourism services.

Around 5,514 Establishments Operating in the Tourism Sector Contributed USD 215.6 to Value Added during 2011.

There were about 5,514 establishments working in the tourism sector in Palestine. These were distributed as 3,241 restaurants, 1,503 shops selling souvenirs and handicrafts, 215 working in antiques and wooden handcrafts, 262 travel and tourism agencies, 93 in short-term accommodation (hotels), 72 car rental services, 107 providing services organizing Haj and Umrah trips and 21 involved in passenger transportation by scheduled long-distance bus services.  

The total value added of the establishments working in the field of tourism activities totaled USD 215.6 million; 36% of this value was made up of the activities of travel agencies, 24% each by restaurants and hotels, while antiques and wooden handcrafts had the lowest share with one percent of the total value added.

Most Tickets were to African Countries

Around 297 thousand travel tickets were sold in 2011:  36% for travel to African countries, 33% to Arab countries, 29% to Europe and 2% to the rest of the world.

For more information, contact us on:

Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics

P.O.Box 1647 Ramallah, Palestine.

Tel: (972/970) 2 298 2700

Fax: (972/970) 2 298 2710

Toll Free: 1800300300

E-Mail: diwan@pcbs.gov.ps

Website:  http://www.pcbs.gov.ps