'More visitors during Christmas'

Palestinian Minister of Tourism Rola Mebayaa Jerusalem - Emtyaz Al Mograbi Palestinian Minister of Tourism Rola Mebayaa said that they will be providing tourists with souvenirs and certificates of pilgrimage sealed with the Palestinian state stamp for visitors spending their Christmas in Bethlehem. She addedthat Palestine would witness increasing number of visitors during the season of Christmas, adding that the Palestinian hotels will be full during the current period. The Palestinian minister underlined a number of problems, including closing the gate of Bethlehem to delay the buses of tourists and the obstacles that face the Palestinians of 1948. She added that they contacted the Palestinian Authority for the Civil Affairs to resolve the problems that face tourists. Rola added that Israelis work to resolve the problems that could face the tourists, considering tourism as a mutual interest. She added that tourism sector witnessed a limited decline during the recent Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip, while tourism in Palestine witnessed a notable progress during 2012. The Palestinian official stressed that they should not separate the ministry from the private sector, adding that they are partners. She added that they work to support the private sector to ensure achieving integration. She added that the ministries work to cooperate with the private sector, adding that they participated together in the celebrations of classifying the Palestinian hotels. She stressed that religious tourism is a priority, adding that President Mahmoud Abbas asked her to focus on this in specific. Rola expressed her pride over the international recognition of the Palestinian state, adding that such a step could push forward the Palestinian cause. She added, “As a minister, the recognition will allow tourists to see Palestine as a state on the internet prompting many international authorities to directly deal with us.”