Tourism in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. How Fair...How Educational? Joint Advocacy Tourism in the Occupied Initiative Magazine Palestinian Territories
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JAI Joint Advocacy Initiative The East Jerusalem YMCA YWCA of Palestine Tourism in the occupied Palestinian territories. How Fair...How Educational? Joint Advocacy Tourism in the occupied Initiative Magazine Palestinian territories. Spring 2010 How Fair...How Educational? Joint Advocacy Initiative Office:The East Jerusalem In this edition of the JAI magazine environmental and solidarity tour- YMCA, Beit Sahour Branch we try to have some focus on tour- ism with some focus on promoting ism from different point of views other Palestinian areas which were 455 Jerusalem St. Tel/Fax: and perspectives. The articles out of the touristic programs. +972(0)2 2774540 written and interviews made with E-mail: [email protected] the interested people and those These initiatives were driven by Website: http://www.jai-pal.org involved in this sector activities the belief that tourism can be a show a variety in the way those real tool to educate tourists about Mailing address: people see tourism and its impor- the Palestinian culture and heri- Joint Advocacy Initiative tance. But also show that new ini- tage as well as our traditions and The East Jerusalem YMCA tiatives and ideas to market the Oc- values. Tourists can come and go P.O. BOX 19023 cupied Palestinian territories (OPt) with some beautiful picture in East Jerusalem are in place. mind about place visited. They can also come and leave having a dif- Editor: In the last few years, many Pal- ferent idea that might lead to some Ibrahim Hannouneh estinian organizations working in engagement with the Palestinian tourism including the private and cause. This is dependant of the Sections of articles may be used public sectors have raised their tourist personal interests but also freely, but please contact the edi- concern on how to make tourism on the program and the people the tor before reproducing a whole ar- not only a tool for economic devel- talk to. ticle. Articles express the opinions opment but also as a tool of cultural of the author and do not necessar- exposure and ethical engagement Tourism can be a tool to bring at- ily reflect the opinion or policies of to support the Palestinians in their tachment between the tourist and the Joint Advocacy Initiative. pursuit for freedom, peace and jus- not only the holy shrines and his- tice. For such purpose many NGOs toric sites in the oPt, but also with Desgin & Printing: developed alternative tourism pro- the Palestinian people and their Rai House of Art grams that include encountering cause and concerns. It can also be Beit Jala - Palestine Palestinian people at different lev- an advocacy tool that creates inter- Tel: +972 2 274 0713 els. national advocates who work for Fax: +972 2 277 0743 the self determination of the Pal- E-mail: [email protected] A Code on Conduct on Tourism estinian people and for peace with www.rai.com.ps was also issued by the Palestinian justice. The work on this area has Initiative on Responsible Tourism started. Still there is much to be (PIRT) as a result of much work done mainly on developing a uni- JAI Joint Advocacy Initiative locally and internationally of the fied vision among the Palestinian theme of Justice Tourism. A new touristic sectors concerned and a The East Jerusalem YMCA initiative is also being developed plan on how to work locally on de- 29 Nablus Road among Palestinian NGOs address- veloping the roles of such sectors P.O.Box 19023 ing the importance of cultural, to serve realizing this vision. East Jerusalem Tel: +972 (0)2 6286888 Fax: +972(0)2 6276301 hanks for all those who contributed T YWCA of Palestine to this edition. Ibn Jubeir Street P.O. Box 20044 We wish you a joyful reading. East Jerusalem Tel: +972 (0)2 6282532 JAI team Fax: +972(0)2 6284654 We need your feedback on our magazine: www.jai-pal.org/Magazine_2010_Feedback_Form.php 2 CONTENT... Tourism and Peace-building in Palestine: Are we on the right tour? 4 By:Adithya Joseph and Timothy Connerton Ecumenical Coalition On Tourism (ECOT) Difficulties facing tourism and Pilgrims in Palestine 6 By Marika Mikulak – JAI volunteer with Mr. Majed Ishaq. Alternative Tourism in Palestine: The other side of the story 8 By: Rami Kassis Director of the Alternative Tourism Group (ATG) An interview with Mr George Abu Aita General Manager 12 Paradise Hotel - Bethlehem By: Ibrahim Hannouneh - JAI Guide perspective Leading tourists into Palestine and the Holy Land 14 By: Wofgang Wittrock, Ph. D. An electronic interview with Mr. Anwar Shomali 16 General Director of Anastasias Tours in Bethlehem and an experienced tour guide. Tourism and Economy in the occupied Palestinian territories 18 Survey carried out by Marika Mikulak and Rahel Dette – JAI volunteers Which Country Is Bethlehem In?! 20 The Code of Conduct for Travellers to the Holy Land 22 3 Tourism and Peace-building in Palestine: Are we on the right tour? By:Adithya Joseph and Tim- Interpretations of peace building othy Connerton are viewed through the context of Ecumenical Coalition On specific conflicts. Tourism in Pales- Tourism (ECOT) tine can play a role in peace build- ing largely by creating economic Jerusalem – Bethlehem terminal When tourists journey to an un- stability and an environment of understanding. Tourists can play a along the way, a major source of stable region, the perceived risk angst to walled-in Palestinians. of injury and incident increases role in reaching out to the unheard, giving a voice, and connecting the Likewise, foreigners do not grasp tenfold. The stigma attached to the real nature of the security any given “danger zone” focuses two worlds of difference. Through an international presence of shar- “fence” as they pass through a gate a tourist’s concerns on surviving within a matter of minutes, while and avoiding confrontations and ing hope and concern to people caught in conflict, tourists can be a Palestinians might get held up for incidents. While certain risks must hours while making the same trip. be considered, it’s unfortunate that force in lighting the fire for people in both parties to end hatred and These are very important aspects these might be the only thing trou- of the Israeli – Palestinian conflict bling a person’s mind as they trav- conflict, and rather desire to work towards peace. that need to be understood from el through a place like Palestine. the Palestinian perspective if peace It is the goal of many alternative building is to occur. tourism groups to work beyond the Tourist-Centered Tourism tourist-centered sightseeing and Another Tourism is Possible question, how can this trip instead Currently, tourism in Palestine does not reflect a fair and just contribute to the much needed Given these engrained aspects of a peace and well-being of the local model of tourism, and might fur- ther contribute to conflict. Many typical pilgrimage to Palestine, an population? Indeed, the potential alternative tourism model is made for peace building through tourism circumstances of the political con- flict have shaped tourism in Pales- more difficult, but yet, is possible. has become an important area of Tourism can be a tool for peace exploration, especially in conflict- tine into a very narrow experience. Israeli security checkpoints moni- building. ECOT’s media state- ridden Palestine. In very practical ment for peace in Palestine and Is- ways, tourism can be a tool for tor and regulate all activity inside Palestine, controlling movement rael further points to questions that peace building when a vision of tourist would benefit to ask, such peace in Palestine is at the fore- and duration of stay in Palestine. These high levels of control and as, “Why are the arrangements front of a tourists’ mind. The pres- such that pilgrims end up staying ence of a vision of peace depends restriction often encourage tour- ists to purchase accommodation at Israeli places of accommodation largely on one factor: choosing the but are discouraged from using right tour. in Israel, and only enter Palestine for a few hours a day. In some Palestinian hotels to the detriment cases, tourists are encouraged by of the Palestinian economy?, Is it their Israeli guides to buy souve- defensible that pilgrims are bused nirs (such as carvings from olive in and out of Palestine in Israeli trees) from Israel, rather than from vehicles with little opportunity for Palestinian merchants. Such direct interface with the local Palestinian and indirect forces unjustly direct population in turn denied access to revenues away from the Palestin- tourist income? How reliable are ian economy which should benefit the material and advice provided from hosting these tourists. Rather, to pilgrims by Israeli tourism with Israeli tour companies and hotels regard to the Palestinian people? largely reap the benefits from the Do they reinforce negative stereo- 1 tourist industry. types of Palestinians and Arabs?” If these questions are posed to pil- Moreover, pilgrims are not pre- grims in a non-offensive manner, sented with the realities of injus- it would plant the seeds of a more tice and oppression in Palestine. just tourism. On their brief trips to sites such 1“Israel, pilgrimage tourism, and Palestine” Con- as Bethlehem, attention is rarely tours, Newsletter of Ecumenical Coalition On Tour- ism, v19, drawn to illegal Israeli settlements 2. Pg. 22, June-July 2009 4 The Code of Conduct for Tourism in the Holy Land, developed by the Palestinian Initiative for Re- sponsible Tourism, with the col- laboration on international groups such as ECOT, is another helpful guideline.2 It calls for tourists to be mindful of the issues facing Pales- tinians before embarking, to make trips beneficial and educational, and to use the experience gained Tourists at the Holy Sepulture Church - Jerusalem by sharing information with their friends and relatives.