Over 90% occupancy has been recorded in the Palestinian Authority hotels, and 95% of the guests are tourists. It has thus been reported by the Palestinian Hotel Association. In Bethlehem and its environs, for instance, 3,000 hotel rooms are available in 30 hotels — an increase of 1,000 rooms since September 2011. In 2013, 700 additional hotel rooms are expected to be built.
In 2011, 1.4 million tourists visited the Palestinian Authority, and in 2012, 1.8 million tourists are expected there. The goal set for 2013 is crossing the threshold of 2 million tourists. The average cost for a hotel room in the Palestinian Authority is $125 three- to four-star hotels and $300 for five-star hotels.
Israeli hoteliers claim that one of the problems besetting the sector is that tourists visiting Israel skip the Israeli hotels and book rooms in the Palestinian Authority hotels.
Elias Al Arja, the chairman of the Palestinian Hotels Association, rejects the claims, noting: “The tourists staying at our hotels are not coming here at the expense of Israel, but rather thanks to our cooperation with Israel.”
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