Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 30, 2008 Kislev 3, 5769 | | Israel Time: 11:21 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Tourists visiting the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. (Bloomberg) Palestinian Authority enjoys record incoming tourism By Haaretz Service Tags: Palestinian Authority  More than 1,000,000 tourists visited Bethlehem and Jericho during the first nine months of 2008. The Palestinian Authority has witnessed an impressive growth in incoming tourism over the past year. According to statistics released by the Civil Administration in the West Bank, about 1,123,000 tourists have visited Bethlehem and Jericho during the first nine months of 2008, record numbers since the period before the intifada. This represents a 96.5% increase in the numbers of tourists visiting Bethlehem and 42.3% increase in the numbers visiting Jericho (compared to the same period in 2007). The Tourism Ministry and the Civil Administration attribute this important increase to the significant improvement in the security situation in the West Bank in general and the Palestinian Authority areas in particular during the last two years and to the easing of movement restrictions for residents and tourists crossing between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Advertisement "Tourism stimulates economic growth and therefore represents a challenge and a mutual interest to the two nations," said Tourism Minister Ruhama Avraham-Balila. "We have succeeded in restoring a sense of security to tourists in Israel and now we must work together to market the tourist destinations in Israel and the Palestinian Authority as attractive and appealing, for the sake of both our nations," he continued. Head of the Civil Administration in the West Bank, Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai, noted that "the dramatic growth in tourists visiting Bethlehem and Jericho has provided a boost to the Palestinian economy. We are expecting even greater numbers in advance of the upcoming Christmas period and we anticipate that a new record will be achieved, since the period preceding the violence of the year 2000." According to the estimates by the Tourism Ministry, two million Christians will visit Israel in 2008, of whom 1 million are pilgrims. Most pilgrims enter through the Bethlehem crossing and visit the city. Related articles: 2008-A record year for tourism in Israel Tourism to north increases slightly since beginning of Sukkot holiday For Sukkot, Christian pilgrims keep Kinneret's tourism industry alive Bookmark to del.icio.us   A real mensch Chabad leaders say the slain rabbi's only concern was helping Jews away from home. An immodest proposal Likud MK suggests using Palestinian prisoners as human shields against Qassams.

Read & React 'Mumbai terrorist says mission specifically targeted Israelis' Responses: 1 Is 'the most dangerous man in the world' behind the Mumbai attacks? Responses: 2 Israeli experts: Slow op meant 'no chance' for Chabad house captives in Mumbai Responses: 40 Zvi Ba'el: When in doubt - blame al-Qaida Send response In depth / How Israel managed to hinder Iran's nuclear plans Responses: 2 More Headlines 10:11 Report: Mumbai terrorist says mission specifically targeted Israelis 10:11 Is 'the most dangerous man in the world' behind the Mumbai attacks? 00:58 At Chabad house, Israeli paramedics checked the dead as crowd hailed the soldiers 03:40 Israeli experts: Slow operation meant 'no chance' for hostages at Mumbai Chabad house 00:32 ANALYSIS / Are the Mumbai attacks Obama's first test? 05:08 IN-DEPTH / How Israel managed to hinder Iran nuclear plans 05:50 Bush to Olmert: Why are you giving Syria the Golan for nothing? 10:39 Has the AIDS cocktail worked too well in Israel? 05:07 Only after Shabbat was Rivka Holtzberg's family told of Chabad house deaths 01:11 Tensions escalate between India and Pakistan in wake of Mumbai attacks 06:17 'Everything is from the tunnels', says savvy Gaza nine-year-old 11:02 Man dies after swallowing drugs to thwart arrest 08:18 Israel to free Hamas 'bargaining chips' arrested over Shalit kidnapping 01:48 IDF soldiers: We tried to no avail to have base near Nahal Oz relocated 03:57 Recent poll success has made Likud irresistible to donors 04:33 Israel's silicon valley seeks NIS 500 million state investment 03:08 U.S.-funded youth center aims to lure Palestinian teens from extremism Previous Editions Select Day 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov

Special Offers Advertisement Inbal Thanksgiving Sale Save up to 30% off reservations at the Finest Hotel in Jerusalem Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Car rental in Israel Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved