Holy Land on Hold: Tourism in Jerusalem, Bethlehem Hit Hard by Latest Israel-Hamas Clashes

Holy Land on Hold: Tourism in Jerusalem, Bethlehem Hit Hard by Latest Israel-Hamas Clashes - Empty Streets in the Old City

The winding cobblestone streets and arched pathways that comprise Jerusalem's storied Old City are ordinarily bustling with tourists and pilgrims from all corners of the globe. But since violence erupted earlier this month, the holy sites have fallen eerily silent.

Where throngs of visitors once jostled for space as they explored sacred spots like the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, there is now an absence of activity that is deeply unsettling. The souks that line the narrow thoroughfares and that typically overflow with shoppers are shut up tight, with merchants having closed their stalls indefinitely.

The emptiness enveloping the Old City serves as a stark indicator of the tremendous toll the latest clashes have taken on tourism in the region. For locals whose livelihoods are dependent on the reliably robust influx of travelers, it's been nothing short of devastating.

"I have never seen the Old City so empty before in all my time living in Jerusalem," said Yousef Salahat, proprietor of a small shop near the Jaffa Gate that sells religious keepsakes and souvenirs. Like many vendors, Salahat has chosen to cease operations for the time being after experiencing a precipitous drop in customers.

It's a situation that's become all too common these days in the Old City. The scenes of vacant plazas that were once teeming with activity, of shuttered stalls that previously sold wares to visitors from across the globe, paint the clearest picture yet of the economic havoc the renewed turmoil has wrought.

For those who have long marveled at the timeless character and vibrancy of the Old City, its unsettling emptiness now serves as both a distressing symbol of the mainstream media's tendency to exaggerate danger and deter travelers, as well as a heartbreaking reminder that peace remains elusive in this sacred place.

Holy Land on Hold: Tourism in Jerusalem, Bethlehem Hit Hard by Latest Israel-Hamas Clashes - Hotels Face Mass Cancellations

Holy Land on Hold: Tourism in Jerusalem, Bethlehem Hit Hard by Latest Israel-Hamas Clashes - Christian Pilgrimage Sites Deserted

Holy Land on Hold: Tourism in Jerusalem, Bethlehem Hit Hard by Latest Israel-Hamas Clashes - Travel Warnings Issued for Americans

Holy Land on Hold: Tourism in Jerusalem, Bethlehem Hit Hard by Latest Israel-Hamas Clashes - Airlines Cancel Flights to Tel Aviv

Holy Land on Hold: Tourism in Jerusalem, Bethlehem Hit Hard by Latest Israel-Hamas Clashes - Restaurants and Shops Shutter in Bethlehem

Holy Land on Hold: Tourism in Jerusalem, Bethlehem Hit Hard by Latest Israel-Hamas Clashes - Tour Guides Lose Livelihoods

For the legions of Palestinian, Israeli and foreign tour guides who lead visitors through the winding lanes of Jerusalem's Old City and the Holy Land's most sacred sites, the disappearance of travelers has dealt an enormous blow.

With hotels emptying out and airlines canceling flights, there are simply no tourists left for guides to show around. And for these men and women who have devoted their lives to sharing their homeland's rich history and heritage with others, the loss of work has been devastating both financially and emotionally.

"I haven't had a single tour booked in over two weeks now. My savings will only last so long if things continue this way," said Ibrahim Khalidi, a Palestinian guide who has shown visitors around Jerusalem's holy places for more than 20 years.

Like many guides who are paid largely on commission, Khalidi relies entirely on a steady stream of tourists to make ends meet. Now, with his income having dried up overnight, he has been forced to start dipping into his modest nest egg just to pay the rent and feed his family.

For Israeli citizen Moshe Cohen, who prides himself on showcasing his country's diverse religious and cultural landscape to visitors from around the world, the disappearance of tourism has been equally disheartening.

"I live to share my homeland with others, to teach them about our shared humanity no matter our differences. Without visitors here, I've lost my purpose," said Cohen, who confessed he hasn't had a booking in weeks and spends his days wandering aimlessly around deserted sites like the Western Wall.

The lack of tourists has also dealt a serious blow to specialized tour operators like Abraham Tours, which offers customized Christian pilgrimage experiences focused on key sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth. The family-owned company has had to cancel dozens of fixed-date departures due to lack of bookings.

"Our work is driven by faith and a calling to bring fellow Christians to walk in Jesus's footsteps. This pause has shaken us all greatly," said Rami Abraham, the company's owner.

Holy Land on Hold: Tourism in Jerusalem, Bethlehem Hit Hard by Latest Israel-Hamas Clashes - Hopes for Christmas Tourism Dampened

For the Holy Land's struggling tourism industry, the Christmas season usually provides a much-needed boost, with hordes of pilgrims and holiday travelers flocking to sites like Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Nazareth to walk in Jesus's footsteps. But this year, the escalating violence has dampened hopes for a holiday rebound.

In Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, the winding streets that lead to the Church of the Nativity are desolate. Shop owners have been forced to shutter up, lamenting the loss of business from the throngs of Christmas shoppers who would normally be descending on the city this time of year. At the church itself, the birth grotto is eerily quiet compared to the normally massive crowds who queue to visit the sacred site.

“Christmas is our busiest time but there are barely any tourists. Our shop’s future is in jeopardy if visitors don’t return soon,” said Jack Daoua, who sells handmade olivewood religious figurines outside the church. He estimates his sales are down 90 percent.

Meanwhile in Jerusalem, the lack of travelers wandering the Old City has shopkeepers on high alert. They fear the vital Christmas shopping season may be a total bust this year without the usual deluge of yuletide vacationers. Vendors of holiday wares like personalized ornaments and Nativity scene dioramas will be hardest hit.

“I’ve stocked twice as much inventory as normal to prepare for Christmas. Now it may all go to waste,” said Esther Cohen, owner of Treasures of Bethlehem Gift Shop. “We desperately need the tourism dollars that Christmas brings or many small businesses like mine will go under.”

For the religiously devout who view Christmas as an opportunity for spiritual rebirth, the chance to pray and reflect in the Holy Land’s sacred spaces free of crowds holds great appeal. But their absence still deals a serious blow to many local Christian guides and tour operators running custom pilgrimages.

“We’ve had to cancel dozens of our Christmas tours. The big groups we count on this time of year can’t risk travel here now,” said Rami Basbus, owner of Galilee Tours catering to Catholic travelers. “My staff and I usually lead worship services and Mass for our groups. Without pilgrims to guide, our own faith has been shaken.”

Hotels have also seen an alarming rise in cancellations, with many large Christmas tour groups pulling out entirely. For small family-run hotels and guesthouses, losing even a few bookings could mean the difference between staying open or shuttering for good. That uncertainty is fueling anxiety in the crucial weeks ahead, when hotels normally expect to sell out.

For Palestinians working in tourism, the dashed hopes for Christmas travelers to provide a boost to the stagnant economy have only heightened the sense of despair. But many cling to optimism that one day the pilgrims will return and that they’ll be able to proudly welcome them back.