The reopening of the border in Israel due to Omicron is causing a huge blow to the economy. And this year Christmas will be celebrated without tourists.
In a festive atmosphere, candles were recently lit in the Christmas trees of Bethlehem, in the manger square and in Nazareth, in the Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. Anyone looking for a festive atmosphere in the last few weeks in anticipation of Christmas has found it among the many Christmas-colored markets. But anyone who hoped that the influx of foreign believers and tourists to the Holy Land would continue during Christmas did not count on the Omicron variant. Last Wednesday (15.12) the Israeli government extended for the second time the ban on entry of non-Israelis, this time until December 29. According to the office of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, those who have Israel as their place of residence and want to enter the country from any country, even if they are vaccinated, will have to be quarantined for 3 days.
Omicron causes great damage
For Orthodox, Catholics and Armenians from abroad it means that they will not be able to celebrate in the place where Jesus was born. The damage to tourism is incalculable. In 2019, a record year, more than 4.5 million tourists, of whom 335,000 in December alone, visited Israel. And then came the pandemic and with it no visitors from abroad. 20 months later, on November 1, 2021, the country opened its doors again with many restrictions for tourists from abroad. “Group and individual tourism is slowly beginning to recover,” the Israeli Ministry of Tourism said. But the joy did not last. The Omicron variant again led those responsible to close the border. The ministry was forced to lower its expectations for December, from 70.00 tourists to no more than 30,000 to 40,000 which means huge economic consequences. All trips are expected to be canceled by next spring.
“A negative development after what has happened in recent weeks, a completely unexpected shock,” said Marcus Binjar, head of the Austrian Hostel in the Old City of Jerusalem. Even if he considers the government’s decision to be correct, the new ban jeopardizes the financial survival of his hostel, which hosts pilgrims. Gerog Revekamp, head of the German Union Hostel in the town of Tampga on Lake Tiberias, spoke of a new blow. “Instead of feelings of optimism, there is insecurity and the feeling that everything will become more difficult.” Born in Jaffa and raised in Stuttgart, tour guide Uriel Cassie shares his pessimism. It does not dare to criticize the government decision, but it is disastrous for tourism because it sends messages that there is no security in planning.
“Patience is running out”
In the Palestinian territories, the news that the border would be open to visitors from abroad was accepted as a miracle from heaven, says tour guide Muhammed Assaf from Wadi Fukin, east of Bethlehem. Correspondingly, the disappointment was great when the decision was announced that they would close again due to the Omicron variant because everyone was hoping for a return to some normalcy. Is there any hope now for a Christmas with foreign guests? “Insala, I can not say more. Even for Palestinians who have a natural optimism, patience is lacking,” said Assaf. “How the situation will develop, no one knows,” said Nabil Yakaman, who sells traditional handicrafts in Bethlehem. “At the moment only online,” he adds. So far his family has been able to support himself financially, but from now on the planning can only be done on a monthly basis.
“However, there is an incomparable advantage for trips to the Holy Land over destinations in the rest of the world,” said Palestinian Authority Tourism Minister Roula Maia. In the place where Jesus was born and in other holy places there is no alternative. End. Hopes are now turned to Easter. “The situation may then have improved,” Revekampt hopes. “Whoever is left with the bold idea of traveling to our country has made the right decision,” says Uriel Cassie. “The country will be relatively empty and the visitor will be able to make the pilgrimages in peace and in an atmosphere of ecstasy.”
Irini Anastassopoulou / dpa / KNA
Source: Deutsche Welle
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Source From: Capital
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