Palestine’s tourism sector expected to lose 200 mln USD by year-end due to Gaza conflict

RAMALLAH,PALESTINE | Xinhua | Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Rula Maayah said Wednesday that Palestine’s tourism industry is expected to lose 200 million U.S. dollars by the end of the year under the impact of Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip.

In a statement published by the official Palestinian news agency (WAFA), she said that the tourism sector has suffered an average daily loss of 2.5 million dollars since the conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out on Oct. 7.

She said Palestine’s tourism sector faced dire circumstances during this year’s Christmas season, primarily in Gaza and the West Bank.

Bethlehem, a West Bank city that used to attract tourists during the Christmas season, appears desolate this winter, she said. ■