165,000 Visitors Expected in Israel for Christmas

Source: Basilica.ro
Israel’s Tourism Ministry is ready to welcome en estimated 165,000 faithful who are expected to arrive in Israel for the Christmas holiday.
Mihail Mere-Albe | 14 December 2019

Starting at 2 PM on Christmas Eve, December 24, through 2:00 PM on Christmas Day, the Tourism Ministry will offer free roundtrip shuttle transportation, helping pilgrims who travel between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

Buses will depart from the bus stop near the Carta Parking lot in Jerusalem—opposite Jaffa Gate and will continue via Rachel’s Crossing to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem – and back again.

According to Tourism Ministry statistics, 55% of the approximately 4.5 million tourist entries in 2019 were Christians.

24% of all visitors to Israel defined the purpose of their visit as pilgrimage. 84% of all Christian visitors go to Jerusalem, with about 65% visiting Tel Aviv-Jaffa as well. The most visited sites by Christians are the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Via Dolorosa, and Mount Olives.

Translated by Jewish Press.com.

Photo courtesy of Doxologia.ro

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