This article was originally published by Ma'an News and is republished with permission.

Palestinian Minister of Tourism Khouloud Daibes speaks at the celebration marking the one-millionth tourist to visit Bethlehem in 2008. (Mimmi Nietula, Maan Images)

The Nativity Square in Bethlehem erupted in celebrations after the one-millionth tourist of the year 2008 arrived in the city.

As the number of tourists visiting Bethlehem neared one million, arrangements for the celebration were made and three buses waited at the entrance to the city in nearby Beit Jala.

When the group of tourists arrived police ornamented the buses and distributed souvenirs and gifts to the tourists as they accompanied them to the Nativity Square for the official celebration.

When they arrived in the square abutting the famous Nativity Church Palestinian folklore performances were presented to the group, and school girls dressed in traditional Palestinian costumes gave out flowers and small cards with numbers counting up to one million.

When the one-millionth ticket was taken out by Polish visitor Andrzei Czarneki, he was taken up to a podium and awarded a free night in a Bethlehem hotel.

Palestinian Minister of Tourism Khuloud D'eibis hosted the tourists along with a large number of dignitaries who oversaw the event.

Reviving the tourism sector

Bethlehem's tourism industry - historically the city's prime source of income - has suffered drastically since 2000, when an outbreak of violence saw the number of visitors arriving in the city plummet.

Construction of Israel's separation wall - which divides the town from nearby Jerusalem - has also had dire effects on the city's economy, and especially the tourism sector.

Following construction of the wall, statistics indicate that the number of tourists visiting Bethlehem had initially dropped to a mere tenth of pre-2000 figures, despite a decrease in violence in the area.

But recent initiative aimed at bringing tourists back to the city have show initial signs of success.

Tourists visiting Bethlehem take part in the celebration. (Maan Images)

After launching a campaign to restore order in several West Bank city's under Palestinian Authority control - including Bethlehem - and deploying thousands of Palestinian police officers across the West Bank, the PA has invested heavily in reviving Bethlehem's tourist sector.

Initial indicators show that efforts have paid off - last year saw record numbers of international tourists descending on the West Bank town for the traditional Christmas celebration, and the Palestinian Authority says the number of tourists visiting Bethlehem in 2008 is even greater.

The director of Bethlehem's tourist police said some 250,000 tourists are expected to visit the city during the up-coming Christmas season.


Additional reporting by the Insitute for Middle East Understanding.