Economy

The City Economy

Tourism is very important for the industry in the region. Several service and productive enterprises form a main source of living for 20% of the working population who work in the tourism sector. Bethlehem receives visitors and especially pilgrims around the year; with a decrease in their numbers during the cold wintery months Nov.-Feb. Statistics reveal that more than two million visitors and pilgrims come to the holy place where Jesus Christ was born. During Christmas seasons the majority of the people who pray are pilgrims who cannot just arrive to the Holy Land and not pray there and visit.  The importance of the religious place has been recognized way before the development of tourism as we know it today. Bethlehem has been the centre of fascination in the region.

Since the old days, the people of Bethlehem have artistically developed artisanship from locally available resources such as olive wood and mother of pearl. Several articles were produced by hand for mainly religious items and some decorative objects. However, with the modernization and the introduction of machinery such items are now produced with the aid of machinery. This industry is a major source of revenue; be it sold locally or exported internationally. Other sources for the economy of the town are the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, stone and marble, textiles, and olive oil. Traditional artistic clothing items and decorative items are also produced by hand using the centuries old embroidery patterns of Bethlehem; that are mainly produced by women from their homes and sold to women’s societies to market them or souvenir shops.