For the first time ever, the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities participated in an American international travel fair during the inaugural World Religious Travel Expo 2008 held October 29 - November 1 in Orlando, Florida.

The special event, highlighted by the Palestinian delegation, comes within the framework of the strengthened twin relationship between the cities of Bethlehem and Orlando. The territory has experienced increased inbound travels widely seen in the cities of Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Jericho – the result of the new Palestinian leaders’ and the international community’s efforts in reassuring stability, security, and safety in the cities of Palestine.

How? Hard to believe? Unfortunately for a culturally-rich destination such as Palestine, attracting and rebuilding tourism have become a very hard struggle, let alone the number one means of survival it has been deprived of since October 2000. Since the establishment of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in 1994, work has begun with developing tourism to Palestine.

Creating the infrastructure, training facilities, promoting investment, and developing / diversifying the Palestinian product, as well as promoting it abroad, were key issues. Within a short period, international markets got a glimpse of the destination’s regional potential. Palestine was then back on the international tourism map as a unique and exciting get-away with a rich cultural and religious heritage. In the given ‘boom’ time, tourism contributed US$350 million to the national annual revenue and provided 12,000 job opportunities. Investment in the tourism sector increased remarkably, and in the third quarter of year 2000, the number of tourists reached one million with 350,000 tourists spending at least 4 nights in the Palestinian hotels that had registered a total inventory of 6,000 rooms.

After the Intifada sparked, strikes on the tourism sector commenced and since, only escalated despite international efforts to curb violence. Palestinian tourism has suffered a reversal of fortune almost instantaneously. Losses from tourism’s gross revenue amounted to US$670 million. Unemployment in the sector peaked to 90 percent.