Jordan is an ideal destination for those seeking cultural knowledge and spiritual enrichment. Visitors can walk through the valleys, hills and plains that become part of human history by virtue of the simple deeds and profound messages of prophets who walked the land and crossed its rivers during their lives. Read on to discover some of the most renowned religious sites across Jordan.
Bethany Beyond the Jordan
The site of John the Baptist's settlement at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was baptized, has long been known from the Bible (John 1:28 and 10:40) and from the Byzantine and medieval texts.
Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo became a place of pilgrimage for early Christians from Jerusalem and a small church was built there in the 4th century to commemorate the end of Moses' life. Some of the stones from that church remain in their original place in the wall around the apse area.
Anjara
It is believed that Jesus Christ, his disciples, and the Virgin Mary, passed through Anjara once and rested in a cave there during a journey between the Sea of Galilee, the Decapolis cities, Bethany Beyond the Jordan and Jerusalem.
Mukawir
The 1st century AD Roman-Jewish historian, Josephus, identifies the awe-inspiring site of Mukawir (Machaerus) as the palace/fort of Herod, who was the Roman-appointed ruler over the region during the life of Jesus Christ.
Madaba
Madaba and its hinterlands were repeatedly mentioned in the Old Testament. Then it was known as Medeba and it featured in narratives related to Moses and the Exodus, David’s war against the Moabites, Isaiah’s oracle against Moab and King Mesha of Moab’s rebellion against Israel.
Dead Sea & Lot’s Cave
The Dead Sea is one of the most dramatic places on earth, with its stunning natural environment equally matched by its powerful spiritual symbolism. The infamous Sodom and Gomorrah and other cities of the Dead Sea plain, or (Cities of the Valley) were the subjects of some of the most dramatic and enduring Old Testament stories, including that of Lot, whose wife was turned into a pillar of salt for disobeying God’s will.
Umm Ar-Rasas (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
This rectangular walled city, about 30km southeast of Madaba is mentioned on both, the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. It was fortified by the Romans and local Christians were still embellishing it with Byzantine-style mosaics well over 100 years after the start of the Muslim Umayyad rule.
Petra
Petra seems to be mentioned in the Bible’s Old Testament under several possible names, including Sela and Joktheel (2 Kings 14:7).
During the Exodus, Moses and the Israelites passed through the Petra area in Edom. Local tradition says that the spring at Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses), just outside Petra, is the place where Moses struck the rock and brought forth water (Numbers 20:10-11).
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Showing posts with label dead sea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dead sea. Show all posts
Sunday, 25 June 2017
Wednesday, 14 June 2017
JORDAN: Balancing Between Syria War And Promoting Jordanian Tourism
Natural wonders it has in abundance, but natural resources are lacking. And now one of Jordan's main money-earners - tourism - is being killed off by regional conflicts.
A haven of peace surrounded by war, Jordan is turning to contingency measures to try to revive its tourism industry which is suffering because of the raging violence in its neighbours Iraq and Syria.
Tourism in 2014 contributed 14 percent of the kingdom's gross domestic product, to the tune of $4.4bn, the second highest earner after remittances from expatriates.
But the flow of tourism revenue is becoming a trickle.
"For three days I haven't had a tourist come in here," said 30-year-old Mohammed of his souvenir shop in central Amman.
"Things are slowing down, and each year seems to be worse than the last."
The Hashemite kingdom has no shortage of acclaimed wonders, both natural and man-made.
Its rose-pink rock-hewn city of Petra is one of the seven wonders of the world, and the Roman ruins at Jerash in the north of the country near the border with Syria are among the region's most impressive.
The desert at Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea have always figured high on the list of the country's natural attractions.
Until recent years, such sites attracted hundreds of thousands of Western tourists on the trail of the first great civilisations.
But now they are devoid of visitors, frightened off by regional unrest in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring that swept across the Middle East and North Africa.
In those four years, the number of people who visit Petra every year has nearly halved, from just under a million in 2010 to around 600,000 last year. Ten hotels there have had to shut their doors.
And revenue from tourism was down 15 percent during the first four months of 2015 on last year, falling to $1.5bn.
Tourism Minister Nayef al-Fayez attributed the fall to the absence among visitors of visibility on the situation in Jordan.
The head of the country's tourism office, Abderrazak Arabyat, has now come up with an emergency plan aimed at raising Jordan's international profile and getting out of this situation.
There's no magic wand we can wave to fix things in a few weeks.
But we have put in place an ambitious plan targeting in particular the countries of the Gulf such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
New markets including Turkey and the Far East will also be approached, among them China, Japan and South Korea, with the hope of seeing positive results from next year.
There is also a rethink on diversifying the actual product and boosting services such as medical tourism.
According to Fawzi Hamouri, who heads the country's association of private clinics, Jordan has become the prime medical destination in the Middle East and North Africa, with 250,000 foreign patients treated in 2014.
Some Jordanians in the industry believe the authorities are not doing enough, however.
Travel agent Salama Khattar deplores what he called the absence of a clear and ambitious programme of work to relaunch tourism.
We have made no profits since 2011. We are paying the overheads out of our own pockets, he said.
In the past four years, Khattar's agency which brings tourist groups from Belgium, France, Norway and Sweden has seen its business cut in half.
Amman emphasises safety to try to reassure foreign visitors, but Jordanian involvement in the air campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq does not mean it is sheltered from extremism.
It shouldn't be us who pays the price, the tourism minister said, since Jordan is not part of the problem in the region.
Julien, a young French tourist visiting the towering Roman theatre dominating the centre of Amman, said he had no regrets about coming.
A great stay, and no sense of feeling insecure despite a few initial reservations linked to the current trouble, he said.
Western governments regularly warn their citizens that Jordan is not immune from the violence that afflicts the region.
The threat of terrorism remains high in Jordan, says the US State Department's current travel advisory.
The last attack in the country was in 2005, when suicide bombers blew themselves up in three of the capital's hotels, killing 60 people.
A haven of peace surrounded by war, Jordan is turning to contingency measures to try to revive its tourism industry which is suffering because of the raging violence in its neighbours Iraq and Syria.
Tourism in 2014 contributed 14 percent of the kingdom's gross domestic product, to the tune of $4.4bn, the second highest earner after remittances from expatriates.
But the flow of tourism revenue is becoming a trickle.
"For three days I haven't had a tourist come in here," said 30-year-old Mohammed of his souvenir shop in central Amman.
"Things are slowing down, and each year seems to be worse than the last."
The Hashemite kingdom has no shortage of acclaimed wonders, both natural and man-made.
Its rose-pink rock-hewn city of Petra is one of the seven wonders of the world, and the Roman ruins at Jerash in the north of the country near the border with Syria are among the region's most impressive.
The desert at Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea have always figured high on the list of the country's natural attractions.
Until recent years, such sites attracted hundreds of thousands of Western tourists on the trail of the first great civilisations.
But now they are devoid of visitors, frightened off by regional unrest in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring that swept across the Middle East and North Africa.
In those four years, the number of people who visit Petra every year has nearly halved, from just under a million in 2010 to around 600,000 last year. Ten hotels there have had to shut their doors.
And revenue from tourism was down 15 percent during the first four months of 2015 on last year, falling to $1.5bn.
Tourism Minister Nayef al-Fayez attributed the fall to the absence among visitors of visibility on the situation in Jordan.
The head of the country's tourism office, Abderrazak Arabyat, has now come up with an emergency plan aimed at raising Jordan's international profile and getting out of this situation.
There's no magic wand we can wave to fix things in a few weeks.
But we have put in place an ambitious plan targeting in particular the countries of the Gulf such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
New markets including Turkey and the Far East will also be approached, among them China, Japan and South Korea, with the hope of seeing positive results from next year.
There is also a rethink on diversifying the actual product and boosting services such as medical tourism.
According to Fawzi Hamouri, who heads the country's association of private clinics, Jordan has become the prime medical destination in the Middle East and North Africa, with 250,000 foreign patients treated in 2014.
Some Jordanians in the industry believe the authorities are not doing enough, however.
Travel agent Salama Khattar deplores what he called the absence of a clear and ambitious programme of work to relaunch tourism.
We have made no profits since 2011. We are paying the overheads out of our own pockets, he said.
In the past four years, Khattar's agency which brings tourist groups from Belgium, France, Norway and Sweden has seen its business cut in half.
Amman emphasises safety to try to reassure foreign visitors, but Jordanian involvement in the air campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq does not mean it is sheltered from extremism.
It shouldn't be us who pays the price, the tourism minister said, since Jordan is not part of the problem in the region.
Julien, a young French tourist visiting the towering Roman theatre dominating the centre of Amman, said he had no regrets about coming.
A great stay, and no sense of feeling insecure despite a few initial reservations linked to the current trouble, he said.
Western governments regularly warn their citizens that Jordan is not immune from the violence that afflicts the region.
The threat of terrorism remains high in Jordan, says the US State Department's current travel advisory.
The last attack in the country was in 2005, when suicide bombers blew themselves up in three of the capital's hotels, killing 60 people.
Saturday, 10 June 2017
PALESTINE: Ramallah The Commercial, Cultural Capital Of Palestine, Where Alcohol Flows Freely
Ramallah is a small city with a population of approximately 57,000 in the Palestinian Territories, located within the West Bank region, some 15 km (10 miles) north of Jerusalem.
Since the inception of the Palestinian National Authority, Ramallah has acted as the de facto capital city of the Palestinian administration and commercial capital.
Modern Ramallah was founded in the mid-16th century by the Haddadins, a Jordanian tribe of brothers descended from Ghassanid Christian Arabs. The Haddadins, led by Rashid Haddadin, arrived from east of the Jordan River near the Jordanian town of Shoubak.
The Haddadin migration is attributed to fighting and unrest among clans in that area. According to modern living descendents of original Haddadin family members, Rahid's brother Sabra Haddadin was hosting Emir Ibn Kaysoom, head of a powerful Muslim clan in the region, when Sabra's wife gave birth to a baby girl.
According to custom, the Emir proposed a betrothal to his own young son when they came of age. Sabra believed the proposal was in jest, as Muslim-Christian marriages were not customary, and gave his word. When the Emir later came to the Haddadins and demanded that they fulfill their promise, they refused.
This set off bloody conflict between the two families. The Haddadins fled west and settled on the hilltops of Ramallah, where only a few Muslim families lived at the time. Today although town has a Muslim majority, Ramallah retains it's title as a historically Christian Palestinian town
Ramallah is known for its religiously relaxed atmosphere alcohol flows freely and movie theaters are well attended—and the cafes along its main streets. Ramallah is, without question, the cultural capital of the West Bank, with a highly educated and fashionable population. It is also the hub of Palestinian feminist activity; the city’s women frequently attend university rather than marry early, and several cafes run exclusively by women are used to fund local feminist organizations.
While there, it is easy to make small talk with the locals. Unless you are firmly anti-Israeli occupation, it is advisable that you do more listening than actual talking yourself, however. For the most part, Palestinians are glad to share their problems and plight to any western visitors.
Visiting Ramallah
Tourists with passports outside the Middle East have no problem entering or exiting Ramallah. Make sure to have your passport and visa stamp with you. Even though you will probably not need your passport to enter, you will be required to show your passport and stamp in order to re-enter Israel. Once through the checkpoint, it is a short drive to downtown Ramallah. Bear in mind that it is illegal for Israelis to enter Ramallah, under Israeli law.
On the way back, if you have an Israeli visa stamp or visa paper with your passport from when you arrived in Israel, then just stay on the bus as it arrives at Kalandia. Many passengers will get off here to go through a different security check. A couple of border guards with huge guns will come on to the bus to check passenger ID documents. They will probably speak English well and may ask some questions about where you are from,even though they can read it on your passport.
There is 1 one bus station on Al-Nahder St. that serves buses from/to Nablus, and probably other destinations north. There are at least three other bus stations in the city which also serve various destinations. Nevertheless, they are all pretty close to each other.
From Jerusalem the best connection to Ramallah is bus/sherut/serves 218 or 219. It departs from the Nablus Road station close to Damascus Gate on Nablus Rd (aka Derech Shchem) and will take you all the way to before mentioned bus station near the central square of al-Manara. It takes around 45 minutes.
From Bethlehem take a shared taxi (Sherut/serviis) from the Bethlehem bus station at Manger St. in the center. The trip takes 45 min all the way around Jerusalem..
From Jericho take a shared taxi (Sherut/serviis) from the central roundabout with the garden in the middle. The taxis are waiting on the western side of the roundabout. To increase your luck, you can also wait at the roundabout out of the city with the mosque. Even hitchhiking from there makes sense. The trip to Ramallah takes less than an hour. The exact price is listed in the tourist information on the central roundabout in Jericho centre.
From Nablus the trip takes about an hour. Ask around from which bus station in Nablus the correct bus starts.
It is worth asking the drivers before you get on to double-check the bus is going to the right destination. You might be surprised how many of them can speak basic English. There are two main types of buses. There are small ones with about 20 seats, and biggers ones that look more like coaches and are much more comfortable. They all cost the same, and there is usually a rush of passengers pushing their way onto the buses.
From Jerusalem's Damascus Gate you can find taxis to Ramallah for approximately ₪80-100 depending on your bargaining skills. You can also take a taxi to Kalandia checkpoint and walk through, picking up another taxi on the other side. It costs about ₪30 from Kalandia to Ramallah centre.
Heading north from Jerusalem on road #60, you will arrive to Ramallah very quickly. You will have to pass one Israeli checkpoint on the way: Kalandia.
As the Kalandia airport is not accessible for civilian passengers anymore, the only nearby passenger airports are Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv and Queen Alia in Amman then heading towards Allenby Bridge aka King Hussein Bridge and passing through it - Visa on arrival for Israel is available for most common nationalities.
It is easy to find a taxi to get around Ramallah for ₪10 fixed charge, or the amount specified by the fare-meter. Car rentals are also available, but seldom needed. As the city center is relatively small, it is not hard to walk to most destinations downtown,including the old city.
Service shuttles orshared taxis are also available from downtown to most suburbs and to the outskirts of the city at relatively low prices ₪2.5 inside the city and up to ₪6 to nearby towns and villages. Make sure to confirm a price before getting into a taxi.
The city is one of the most vibrant ones in the West Bank. In Ramallah, a few historic and religious sites are present. However, the downtown streets are a must see during the day, as the city is often really congested.
Hisbeh produce market, see below.
1 Old City. While not resembling any Medina-style old city, several churches and mosques can be found that may be of interest to visitors.
The Friends Schools. One of the oldest schools in the region, are also a must visit as there is one near the old city, and another in the entrance of the downtown coming from Jerusalem.
2 Yasser Arafat's mausoleum 700 m northwest of the central roundabout. 10am-5pm, except Mondays. The mausoleum is the only part of the Mukata'a two-block complex tourists can visit. You will be asked by the armed guards at the gate to leave any bags large or small with them but they will allow you to take your camera with you to visit the tomb.
Inside you will find a couple of soldiers standing guard over the tomb. This seems to be a ceremonial guard and they will not object to your taking photos inside there, even of yourself or others next to the marble gravestone. Next to the mausoleum is the museum building where Arafat was held under siege by the Israeli Army in 2002.
The museum is interesting in a way that it displays the Palestinian, sometimes a little questionable but interesting view of the difficult past. Mausoleum is free - Museum is ₪5.
3 West Bank headquarters of the Palestinian Authority. Closed for public. The Mukata'a is a two-block compound with a white tower that is lit up at night and visible from most parts of the city. It contains some government offices and conference rooms, as well as the above mentioned Yasser Arafat's mausoleum.
4 Dar Zahran Heritage Building 750 m west of the central roundabout. Mon-Sat, opens 11am. A protected and family-owned building and one of the top sights in Ramallah, displaying the history and art of Ramallah's past and present. A nice and helpful host takes care of the place with over 200 years of history. It is also a hotel and you can buy souvenirs.
5 Al Tireh. A fortress from the 12th century.
Activities
Tourism, in the traditional sense, is almost non-existent in Ramallah compared to other cities in the region. If you are visiting Ramallah, it is probable that you are doing so for political, business, and/or humanitarian reasons, expect to have lots of staring, curious but always friendly eyes looking at you as you walk though town.
Join a protest, e-mail: info@hostelinramallah.com. Many international visitors to Ramallah come to get taxi rides to see the protests in the neighboring villages like Nabi Saleh and the world famous Bil'in protests against Israel's separation barrier. Hostel in Ramallah has different tours, twice per week they organize trip to one of the protests and hebron city.
Turkish bath In the twin-city of El-Bireh. A good destination for foreigners wanting to relax for the day.
Ramallah is the home of the Friends School in the Palestinian Territories. The school has two campuses, one for grades 1-6 and is located near the old city. The other is for grades 7-12 and is located near the old police station destroyed by an Israeli air strike. The schools are famous for their international learning environment, intensive English language focus, and liberal learning atmosphere. The schools are private and have a number of notable Palestinian alumni.
The city also has a number of public and private schools that serve a good number of the West Bank youth population. Private schools with specific religious affiliations can also be found.
In the twin city of El-Bireh, there is also a school for the blind that also serves as a vocational center.
Birzeit University, which is in the neighboring town of Birzeit, is one of the Palestinian Authority's leading educational institutions. The University offers a large number of study options and at different levels for students. It also has several links with international institutions, and often has a number of international students attending it. The PAS (Palestinian and Arab Studies) program is popular with internationals visiting or working in the West Bank who want to learn Arabic and take classes on the history and politics of the Palestinian Authority.
The city also has branches for Al-Quds Open University, which offers continuing education opportunities to many Palestinians.
There are a number of vocational training centers in the city, neighboring towns, and refugee camps.
Work
Ramallah is a vibrant Palestinian business hub, especially as most international agencies and governmental offices are located in the city. However, with the immigration of Palestinians from other cities in the West Bank to Ramallah, there is a highly competitve job market and many Palestinians, especially young men come to the city seeking work. The most popular career portal In Ramallah and Palestine is Jobs in Palestine .here you can find most jobs advertised by INGOs,NGOs,and local companies
Major working opportunities in Ramallah include information technology, pharmaceuticals, development cooperation, and the public sector. Restaurant and coffee shop jobs are also available, mainly during the summer. Agricultural jobs are minimal in the city, but a few can be sought in neighboring villages.
For foreigners, work opportunities tend to include consultancies in certain private sector markets - IT is most common. The vast majority of foreigners working in Ramallah are doing development or humanitarian work. A significant number are focused on human rights and advocacy. A number of UN agencies work directly in the West Bank and many, such as the UNDP, maintain office in Ramallah.
Volunteering opportunities are common in small and medium sized Palestinian NGOs as well as some international NGOs. Volunteering is an excellent way to get to understand an organisation and the field they operate in. Most local NGOs will appreciate foreign volunteers, particularly if they have good written English skills, enabling them to support fundraising work.
Volunteers are often paid small sums to cover basic travel costs but this varies. If you are planning to volunteer, have enough money to support yourself as Ramallah is not a cheap place to live. you could also volunteer in some new small projects as the first youth hostel in the city (HOSTEL in RAMALLAH) and through the hostel there are some other projects as an organic farm or refuge camps http://hostelinramallah.com
Shopping
There's not a huge amount to do in Ramallah if you are just visiting. A great way to spend your time could be to dip in and out of shops. Shop-keepers are among the most ready-to-talk and many have colourful lives. It gives you a good reason to walk around and take your time.
You will never find everything under one roof, but for a basket of common necessities, you will need to visit a baker, grocer, butcher, pharmacy and mini-market. Ramallah city centre, despite the development and growth of some new stores retains a small-town feel due to the protections for tenants that mean many shops have been in the same location for decades,rent agreed at the outset cannot be increased, so in many cases is only a few USD per year.
1 Hisbeh produce market (Souq) located near the main bus station and the central mosque, about 150m away from al-Manara Square (the centre of Ramallah. A great place to visit. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be found at reasonable prices. Produce is a mixture of Palestinian, Israeli and imported goods. Prices are basically fixed although bargaining is possible if you buy more than a few kilos.
2 Noora Heritage House, Al masion area. Traditional palestinian handcraft can be found here.
Butchers in Ramallah normally sell meat (Beef/Lamb) or chicken. If they sell both, they are separated and attended by different people. One of the best butchers is on Tireh Street about 1km from Al-Manara. The butcher will cut the meat to your specification and will mince it for you while you wait for no extra charge. If you ask for barbeque meat, you will also get a mix of coriandar, garlic and spices ready for BBQ.
Dining
The bakery on Al-Quds street where the buses emerge from the bus station is one of the best in town. The staple is 'kmaaj' or pitta bread. A bakery in the Old City (Ramallah Tahta) produces brown kmaaj and sliced bread.
Also the Arabic variety of ice cream in many places in Ramallah is worth trying - a very different and more gooey and sticky version of what is available in the west. Regular ice cream can be found everywhere also. Try Rukab's and Baladna ice cream shops on the main street.
There are a huge number of Falafel and Shawarma places on all of the main streets. A filling falafel or hummous pita sandwich with a drink should run you around ₪4-6 from any of the common downtown restaurants. At nicer restaurants, such a combination will run you a bit more.
A large Shawerma, Kebab, or Chicken sandwich goes for around ₪10-15 in most restaurants. A hamburger, fries, and a drink go for around ₪15-25 depending on the restaurant. Abu Alabed is an excellent Shawerma place located in the old city next to fish and chips restaurant. Big Bite located at the end of the main street offers a wide range of hot and cold sandwiches.
Nazareth Restaurant, Tireh Street (at the end of the main street). Popular for locals and serves really great (but hummousey) Falafel.
Saba, Tireh Street on the main street across the road from the famous "Rukab" Ice-Cream shop. Falafel.
Abu Khalil, Tireh Street. Another delicious Falafel.
Fish and Chips restaurant located in the old city. You can have a delicious dish of fresh fish or other seafood dishes. You can choose your favourite fresh fish from Palestine Fishery and ask the chef to prepare that fish for you in the way you like. They also prepare very delicious fish sandwiches at reasonable prices.
Angelinos on the left at the end of the main street. Another place to eat. Go with friends and you will like sandwich with turkey, stuffed pigeon and pizzas. Price/quality is very satisfactory.
Tomasso'spizza. For a nice pizza dine-in or take-out.
Checkers. For those who want more American/Western food, this place is a fast-food joint in the mini-mall and on the main street.
Chicago Cheese Steak a little south-east from Manara Square. American/Western
The city has a number of upscale restaurants. A nice steak or seafood dish will cost around ₪80. "Darna", "Angelo's", "Azure" are all nice options for upscale dining.
Ziryab, Main Street,just past the Jawwal office. 12-midnight. Ziryab is great in winter with a large open fireplace and good food. The prices are average. Alcohol is available. ₪50-100.
Tropicana Massyoun, behind the Quds Bank. A moderately-priced gourmet restaurant. Especially in summer, you can sit in the garden, and apart from the traditional Arabic food, they also serve European and Armenian dishes.
Drinking
Although predominately Muslim, Ramallah is still a Christian town, hence Ramallah's large restaurants usually serve alcohol. Expect a selection of imported beers (Heineken, Corona, etc.), spirits, and perhaps red or white wine. Do not display public intoxication, as at best, it is rude and inconsiderate to your Muslim hosts. At worst, it could be dangerous.
The city's active nightlife and its relatively liberal culture makes it a hot destination for visitors from other cities including Jerusalem during the weeknights and weekends.
During the night, a good number of shops are still open, especially during the summer. A common habit of the citizens of the city is going out for a drink, dinner, or a 'Argila' (flavoured tobacco waterpipe.) The cities various coffee shops, bars, and restaurants are a must see/visit. The nicer ones are often available closer the older city, and on the road going to Betunia, while some good ones can also be found outside the city center.
Palestinians seem to love fresh fruit-juice. For under ₪10 you can get a large juice with a mixture of anything from Pomegranate to Orange juice.
1 Silwadi (on Al-Manara square). This juice shop is the most famous and has been around for decades. Silwadi's something of a purist serving only pure juice.
2 Alsham Cafe (on Al-Manara square just below Stars & Bucks.). This one also serves a cocktail which includes ice-cream, nuts and dried fruit as well as chocolate sauce. ₪7-15.
Coffee shops
Ramallah offers a wide variety of coffeeshops ranging from the local low-scale ones serving Arabic Coffee for ₪2, to those fancy places serving the same item for ₪10-15. Try the Arabic drinks (arabic coffee, mint tea, sahleb, etc ), cappucinos and lattes, and fresh juices and cocktails at the numerous cafes around downtown and in the suburbs.
'Coffee shops' are places to drink coffee and smoke waterpipes. The term Argila is often used in Ramallah to describe the waterpipes, while Shishah is also used at some places. You might even see 'Hookah' or 'Hubbly Bubbly'. You can also smoke Arghila in almost any restaurant, although some have special areas for them.
You can order normal ('aadi') or fresh ('fresh'). Fresh means the tobacco is placed in a piece of fruit like an orange (or even a watermelon). It has a smoother flavour but is more expensive. You should also choose your flavour. Common flavours are double-apple ('tufateen') and lemon and mint ('limun-w-nana').
Depending on the location and type of restaurant of cafe, the price of smoking a nice and soothing tobacco waterpipe costs anywhere between ₪8-30. The cheapest places do have an unwritten men-only rule, however.
A mobile coffee stand (usually found at Rukab street two blocks west from Manara Square). Serving the arguably best sahlab in town. ₪4.
Baladna (next to Rukab icecream). a cheap 'Coffee Shop' with an un-written men-only rule. It is packed every day for most of the evening. A normal Arghila is about ₪8.
Tarwee'a (Main Street/Tireh Street near the Arab Bank). A midrange 'Coffee Shop' which accepts men and women
Also try "European" and "Karameh" on main street.
Pubs
Popular local places to get served alcohol are Zan's, Zryiab, Stones, Angelo's, and Sangria's. They all serve food as well and the local Palestinian beer "Taybeh" (which can challenge most European beers). For more robust beer lovers, Taybeh also comes in a delightfully rich tasting dark version although this isn't as widely sold as the lighter ale.
Most neighborhoods, particularly traditionally Christian ones have a couple of stores that sell beer, wine and spirits.
Silwadi Juice Shop, al-Manara Square (Right on the central square in Ramallah). 7am to midnight. Silwadi juice shop is the most famous juice shop in Ramallah. It has been in the same place for decades. They only serve fresh juice. Choose from a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Under ₪10.
Snobar, Masaif (al-Irsal) 10 minutes from the centre off the left from al-Irsal street. Evenings. Snobar is an open-air summer bar about 5 minutes in a taxi from the centre of the city. Snobar means pine tree in Arabic and the area is enclosed by tall pines. There is an outdoor swimming pool which is open in the afternoons. Food and alcohol available. ₪20 for a beer.
Radio, Al-Masyoun Area,Turn left at the lights next to the HSBC on Beitunya Road. Beit Anisa was the name now it is radio is Ramallah's latest addition to the nightlife and feels more like a bar in London's Soho. It attracts a mixture of locals, foreigners and others. Alcohol available. ₪25 for a Beer.
Orjwan, Al-Masyoun Area (Near the Sakakini Centre). Evenings. Orjwan is Ramallah's premium nightspot attracting the higher echelons. Holiday-snaps from Orjwan might not look out of place with those from New York or London. ₪20-30 for a Beer.
Taybeh Beer Brewery Taybeh village, negotiate a wage for taxi ride from Ramallah's bus station or catch a serveese to Taybeh. Run and operated by the Palestinian-American Khoury family, this is one of only a handful of micro-breweries in the Middle East.
It creates the famous Palestinian beer called "Taybeh" and gets it's name from the village that it is made in,the only 100% Palestinian Christian village in Palestine. They offer a tour of their factory and have a gift shop and fresh and very, very, very cheap beer on sale. The village of Taybeh also hosts it's very own Oktoberfest-style festival on the first week of October in Taybeh village ₪5 per beer.
Fiego (in the old city). An upscale and very cosy place in an old city building, with great lights, a warming fireplace for cold winter nights, friendly staff and excellent drinks. small beer ₪17, cocktails ₪35.
Accomodation
Hostel in Ramallah, Arafat square al-nuzha street (Almaktaba) 12 (from Ramallah bus station walk 5 min to Arafat square (ask at silwadi juice at al-manara square) Check-in: any time, check-out: 12:00. The first youth hostel in Ramallah. Including breakfast and city tour, political yours and introduction to Palestine, roof terrace and bar local beers cooking Palestinian food great city view. Close to night life in a safe zone in the city at night. Hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and many other activities can be organised. If you stay here you can collect a stamp for the AubergInn in Jericho for a steep discount of ₪100 to ₪60 (dorm bed). Also, the Nablus Youth Hostel offers a discount of ₪70 to ₪60 if you get recommended by Hostel in Ramallah. Dorm bed ₪50.
Al Wehdeh Hotel, Al Nahdah Street,Great Hotel, but a little run down but the cheapest in town.. single ₪150.
Merryland Hostel, 3rd floor of Al Ramoni building close to al-mactaba, No dormitories, so not really a hostel.Single ₪150, Double ₪180.
Al-Hajjal (on Jaffa Road),
Area D Hostel, Top Floor, Maliki Building, between Jerusalem bus station (#18) and main mosque al-bireh (At the bus station arriving from Jerusalem, take street towards big mosque and enter the second building on your right. Take the elevator to the top floor. You will see our sign on the building from the bus station. At night, enter via the parking garage using the doorbell there.), Check-in: 24/7, check-out: 24/7. Area D was recently selected as the Lonely Planet editor's top choice in town, and it focuses on the political situation, with lots of information and tours. A place to relax for a few days, get to know the city and its people, and learn more about this fascinating part of the world. Dorms for 70 NIS, Private rooms for 200 NIS/room, Apartments for 400 USD/month.
Mid-Class
City Inn Palace.
Best Eastern.
Rocky Hotel.
High Class
Grand Park Hotel. The most common destination in the city for businessmen and government officials. Room prices vary according to season, but often exceed the US$80 per night.
Royal Court Suites Hotel. An all-suites hotel where every room has a kitchenette and A/C. Daily and monthly rates in a tourist area close to restaurants and bars. Prices US$50-140, depending on type of suite.
Safety
Generally speaking, Ramallah is safe for non-Israeli foreigners. The Palestinian residents are usually quite happy to have foreign nationals visit them. Theft is relatively rare, although do not interpret that statement as an OK to let your guard down.
Bear in mind that although Ramallah has been under military occupation for a long time, the city is relatively stable. However, very rarely the Israeli military enters the city to arrest wanted Palestinians. This usually only happens in the dead of night, and they disappear before anyone realizes that they were there.
However, the Israeli military can enter Ramallah bluntly, and in large numbers. If this should happen while you are staying in Ramallah, do what the majority of Palestinians do, and stay inside until they leave and away from any soldiers or military vehicles. Do not assume that just because you are a foreign national that you will be safe.
That said, Ramallah hasn't seen any widespread violence since 2006 and it is highly unlikely to happen,unless there are escalations with Israel, which will be very apparent via international media. In the cases where the Israelis enter, it is usually to arrest a wanted Palestinian in an outskirts refugee camp in the middle of the night. They will rarely enter the city centre, so as to avoid an unnecessary confrontation with large crowds of civilians.
There are at least four bus stations in Ramallah. Simply ask around or at your accommodation which one is the relevant one for your next destination.
Jerusalem – Besides the Dead Sea, a central focus for most people coming to this region.
Nablus – One of the oldest cities in the world and famous for its kunafa/kenafeh.
Bethlehem – The biblical birthplace of Jesus and hometown of David, surrounded by Mar Saba Monastery and Herodium (Herodion) Park.
Jericho – One of the oldest settlements in the world and the Middle East, and a great starting point for Kalya Beach at the Dead Sea.
Since the inception of the Palestinian National Authority, Ramallah has acted as the de facto capital city of the Palestinian administration and commercial capital.
Modern Ramallah was founded in the mid-16th century by the Haddadins, a Jordanian tribe of brothers descended from Ghassanid Christian Arabs. The Haddadins, led by Rashid Haddadin, arrived from east of the Jordan River near the Jordanian town of Shoubak.
The Haddadin migration is attributed to fighting and unrest among clans in that area. According to modern living descendents of original Haddadin family members, Rahid's brother Sabra Haddadin was hosting Emir Ibn Kaysoom, head of a powerful Muslim clan in the region, when Sabra's wife gave birth to a baby girl.
According to custom, the Emir proposed a betrothal to his own young son when they came of age. Sabra believed the proposal was in jest, as Muslim-Christian marriages were not customary, and gave his word. When the Emir later came to the Haddadins and demanded that they fulfill their promise, they refused.
This set off bloody conflict between the two families. The Haddadins fled west and settled on the hilltops of Ramallah, where only a few Muslim families lived at the time. Today although town has a Muslim majority, Ramallah retains it's title as a historically Christian Palestinian town
Ramallah is known for its religiously relaxed atmosphere alcohol flows freely and movie theaters are well attended—and the cafes along its main streets. Ramallah is, without question, the cultural capital of the West Bank, with a highly educated and fashionable population. It is also the hub of Palestinian feminist activity; the city’s women frequently attend university rather than marry early, and several cafes run exclusively by women are used to fund local feminist organizations.
While there, it is easy to make small talk with the locals. Unless you are firmly anti-Israeli occupation, it is advisable that you do more listening than actual talking yourself, however. For the most part, Palestinians are glad to share their problems and plight to any western visitors.
Visiting Ramallah
Tourists with passports outside the Middle East have no problem entering or exiting Ramallah. Make sure to have your passport and visa stamp with you. Even though you will probably not need your passport to enter, you will be required to show your passport and stamp in order to re-enter Israel. Once through the checkpoint, it is a short drive to downtown Ramallah. Bear in mind that it is illegal for Israelis to enter Ramallah, under Israeli law.
On the way back, if you have an Israeli visa stamp or visa paper with your passport from when you arrived in Israel, then just stay on the bus as it arrives at Kalandia. Many passengers will get off here to go through a different security check. A couple of border guards with huge guns will come on to the bus to check passenger ID documents. They will probably speak English well and may ask some questions about where you are from,even though they can read it on your passport.
There is 1 one bus station on Al-Nahder St. that serves buses from/to Nablus, and probably other destinations north. There are at least three other bus stations in the city which also serve various destinations. Nevertheless, they are all pretty close to each other.
From Jerusalem the best connection to Ramallah is bus/sherut/serves 218 or 219. It departs from the Nablus Road station close to Damascus Gate on Nablus Rd (aka Derech Shchem) and will take you all the way to before mentioned bus station near the central square of al-Manara. It takes around 45 minutes.
From Bethlehem take a shared taxi (Sherut/serviis) from the Bethlehem bus station at Manger St. in the center. The trip takes 45 min all the way around Jerusalem..
From Jericho take a shared taxi (Sherut/serviis) from the central roundabout with the garden in the middle. The taxis are waiting on the western side of the roundabout. To increase your luck, you can also wait at the roundabout out of the city with the mosque. Even hitchhiking from there makes sense. The trip to Ramallah takes less than an hour. The exact price is listed in the tourist information on the central roundabout in Jericho centre.
From Nablus the trip takes about an hour. Ask around from which bus station in Nablus the correct bus starts.
It is worth asking the drivers before you get on to double-check the bus is going to the right destination. You might be surprised how many of them can speak basic English. There are two main types of buses. There are small ones with about 20 seats, and biggers ones that look more like coaches and are much more comfortable. They all cost the same, and there is usually a rush of passengers pushing their way onto the buses.
From Jerusalem's Damascus Gate you can find taxis to Ramallah for approximately ₪80-100 depending on your bargaining skills. You can also take a taxi to Kalandia checkpoint and walk through, picking up another taxi on the other side. It costs about ₪30 from Kalandia to Ramallah centre.
Heading north from Jerusalem on road #60, you will arrive to Ramallah very quickly. You will have to pass one Israeli checkpoint on the way: Kalandia.
As the Kalandia airport is not accessible for civilian passengers anymore, the only nearby passenger airports are Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv and Queen Alia in Amman then heading towards Allenby Bridge aka King Hussein Bridge and passing through it - Visa on arrival for Israel is available for most common nationalities.
It is easy to find a taxi to get around Ramallah for ₪10 fixed charge, or the amount specified by the fare-meter. Car rentals are also available, but seldom needed. As the city center is relatively small, it is not hard to walk to most destinations downtown,including the old city.
Service shuttles orshared taxis are also available from downtown to most suburbs and to the outskirts of the city at relatively low prices ₪2.5 inside the city and up to ₪6 to nearby towns and villages. Make sure to confirm a price before getting into a taxi.
The city is one of the most vibrant ones in the West Bank. In Ramallah, a few historic and religious sites are present. However, the downtown streets are a must see during the day, as the city is often really congested.
Hisbeh produce market, see below.
1 Old City. While not resembling any Medina-style old city, several churches and mosques can be found that may be of interest to visitors.
The Friends Schools. One of the oldest schools in the region, are also a must visit as there is one near the old city, and another in the entrance of the downtown coming from Jerusalem.
2 Yasser Arafat's mausoleum 700 m northwest of the central roundabout. 10am-5pm, except Mondays. The mausoleum is the only part of the Mukata'a two-block complex tourists can visit. You will be asked by the armed guards at the gate to leave any bags large or small with them but they will allow you to take your camera with you to visit the tomb.
Inside you will find a couple of soldiers standing guard over the tomb. This seems to be a ceremonial guard and they will not object to your taking photos inside there, even of yourself or others next to the marble gravestone. Next to the mausoleum is the museum building where Arafat was held under siege by the Israeli Army in 2002.
The museum is interesting in a way that it displays the Palestinian, sometimes a little questionable but interesting view of the difficult past. Mausoleum is free - Museum is ₪5.
3 West Bank headquarters of the Palestinian Authority. Closed for public. The Mukata'a is a two-block compound with a white tower that is lit up at night and visible from most parts of the city. It contains some government offices and conference rooms, as well as the above mentioned Yasser Arafat's mausoleum.
4 Dar Zahran Heritage Building 750 m west of the central roundabout. Mon-Sat, opens 11am. A protected and family-owned building and one of the top sights in Ramallah, displaying the history and art of Ramallah's past and present. A nice and helpful host takes care of the place with over 200 years of history. It is also a hotel and you can buy souvenirs.
5 Al Tireh. A fortress from the 12th century.
Activities
Tourism, in the traditional sense, is almost non-existent in Ramallah compared to other cities in the region. If you are visiting Ramallah, it is probable that you are doing so for political, business, and/or humanitarian reasons, expect to have lots of staring, curious but always friendly eyes looking at you as you walk though town.
Join a protest, e-mail: info@hostelinramallah.com. Many international visitors to Ramallah come to get taxi rides to see the protests in the neighboring villages like Nabi Saleh and the world famous Bil'in protests against Israel's separation barrier. Hostel in Ramallah has different tours, twice per week they organize trip to one of the protests and hebron city.
Turkish bath In the twin-city of El-Bireh. A good destination for foreigners wanting to relax for the day.
Ramallah is the home of the Friends School in the Palestinian Territories. The school has two campuses, one for grades 1-6 and is located near the old city. The other is for grades 7-12 and is located near the old police station destroyed by an Israeli air strike. The schools are famous for their international learning environment, intensive English language focus, and liberal learning atmosphere. The schools are private and have a number of notable Palestinian alumni.
The city also has a number of public and private schools that serve a good number of the West Bank youth population. Private schools with specific religious affiliations can also be found.
In the twin city of El-Bireh, there is also a school for the blind that also serves as a vocational center.
Birzeit University, which is in the neighboring town of Birzeit, is one of the Palestinian Authority's leading educational institutions. The University offers a large number of study options and at different levels for students. It also has several links with international institutions, and often has a number of international students attending it. The PAS (Palestinian and Arab Studies) program is popular with internationals visiting or working in the West Bank who want to learn Arabic and take classes on the history and politics of the Palestinian Authority.
The city also has branches for Al-Quds Open University, which offers continuing education opportunities to many Palestinians.
There are a number of vocational training centers in the city, neighboring towns, and refugee camps.
Work
Ramallah is a vibrant Palestinian business hub, especially as most international agencies and governmental offices are located in the city. However, with the immigration of Palestinians from other cities in the West Bank to Ramallah, there is a highly competitve job market and many Palestinians, especially young men come to the city seeking work. The most popular career portal In Ramallah and Palestine is Jobs in Palestine .here you can find most jobs advertised by INGOs,NGOs,and local companies
Major working opportunities in Ramallah include information technology, pharmaceuticals, development cooperation, and the public sector. Restaurant and coffee shop jobs are also available, mainly during the summer. Agricultural jobs are minimal in the city, but a few can be sought in neighboring villages.
For foreigners, work opportunities tend to include consultancies in certain private sector markets - IT is most common. The vast majority of foreigners working in Ramallah are doing development or humanitarian work. A significant number are focused on human rights and advocacy. A number of UN agencies work directly in the West Bank and many, such as the UNDP, maintain office in Ramallah.
Volunteering opportunities are common in small and medium sized Palestinian NGOs as well as some international NGOs. Volunteering is an excellent way to get to understand an organisation and the field they operate in. Most local NGOs will appreciate foreign volunteers, particularly if they have good written English skills, enabling them to support fundraising work.
Volunteers are often paid small sums to cover basic travel costs but this varies. If you are planning to volunteer, have enough money to support yourself as Ramallah is not a cheap place to live. you could also volunteer in some new small projects as the first youth hostel in the city (HOSTEL in RAMALLAH) and through the hostel there are some other projects as an organic farm or refuge camps http://hostelinramallah.com
Shopping
There's not a huge amount to do in Ramallah if you are just visiting. A great way to spend your time could be to dip in and out of shops. Shop-keepers are among the most ready-to-talk and many have colourful lives. It gives you a good reason to walk around and take your time.
You will never find everything under one roof, but for a basket of common necessities, you will need to visit a baker, grocer, butcher, pharmacy and mini-market. Ramallah city centre, despite the development and growth of some new stores retains a small-town feel due to the protections for tenants that mean many shops have been in the same location for decades,rent agreed at the outset cannot be increased, so in many cases is only a few USD per year.
1 Hisbeh produce market (Souq) located near the main bus station and the central mosque, about 150m away from al-Manara Square (the centre of Ramallah. A great place to visit. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be found at reasonable prices. Produce is a mixture of Palestinian, Israeli and imported goods. Prices are basically fixed although bargaining is possible if you buy more than a few kilos.
2 Noora Heritage House, Al masion area. Traditional palestinian handcraft can be found here.
Butchers in Ramallah normally sell meat (Beef/Lamb) or chicken. If they sell both, they are separated and attended by different people. One of the best butchers is on Tireh Street about 1km from Al-Manara. The butcher will cut the meat to your specification and will mince it for you while you wait for no extra charge. If you ask for barbeque meat, you will also get a mix of coriandar, garlic and spices ready for BBQ.
Dining
The bakery on Al-Quds street where the buses emerge from the bus station is one of the best in town. The staple is 'kmaaj' or pitta bread. A bakery in the Old City (Ramallah Tahta) produces brown kmaaj and sliced bread.
Also the Arabic variety of ice cream in many places in Ramallah is worth trying - a very different and more gooey and sticky version of what is available in the west. Regular ice cream can be found everywhere also. Try Rukab's and Baladna ice cream shops on the main street.
There are a huge number of Falafel and Shawarma places on all of the main streets. A filling falafel or hummous pita sandwich with a drink should run you around ₪4-6 from any of the common downtown restaurants. At nicer restaurants, such a combination will run you a bit more.
A large Shawerma, Kebab, or Chicken sandwich goes for around ₪10-15 in most restaurants. A hamburger, fries, and a drink go for around ₪15-25 depending on the restaurant. Abu Alabed is an excellent Shawerma place located in the old city next to fish and chips restaurant. Big Bite located at the end of the main street offers a wide range of hot and cold sandwiches.
Nazareth Restaurant, Tireh Street (at the end of the main street). Popular for locals and serves really great (but hummousey) Falafel.
Saba, Tireh Street on the main street across the road from the famous "Rukab" Ice-Cream shop. Falafel.
Abu Khalil, Tireh Street. Another delicious Falafel.
Fish and Chips restaurant located in the old city. You can have a delicious dish of fresh fish or other seafood dishes. You can choose your favourite fresh fish from Palestine Fishery and ask the chef to prepare that fish for you in the way you like. They also prepare very delicious fish sandwiches at reasonable prices.
Angelinos on the left at the end of the main street. Another place to eat. Go with friends and you will like sandwich with turkey, stuffed pigeon and pizzas. Price/quality is very satisfactory.
Tomasso'spizza. For a nice pizza dine-in or take-out.
Checkers. For those who want more American/Western food, this place is a fast-food joint in the mini-mall and on the main street.
Chicago Cheese Steak a little south-east from Manara Square. American/Western
The city has a number of upscale restaurants. A nice steak or seafood dish will cost around ₪80. "Darna", "Angelo's", "Azure" are all nice options for upscale dining.
Ziryab, Main Street,just past the Jawwal office. 12-midnight. Ziryab is great in winter with a large open fireplace and good food. The prices are average. Alcohol is available. ₪50-100.
Tropicana Massyoun, behind the Quds Bank. A moderately-priced gourmet restaurant. Especially in summer, you can sit in the garden, and apart from the traditional Arabic food, they also serve European and Armenian dishes.
Drinking
Although predominately Muslim, Ramallah is still a Christian town, hence Ramallah's large restaurants usually serve alcohol. Expect a selection of imported beers (Heineken, Corona, etc.), spirits, and perhaps red or white wine. Do not display public intoxication, as at best, it is rude and inconsiderate to your Muslim hosts. At worst, it could be dangerous.
The city's active nightlife and its relatively liberal culture makes it a hot destination for visitors from other cities including Jerusalem during the weeknights and weekends.
During the night, a good number of shops are still open, especially during the summer. A common habit of the citizens of the city is going out for a drink, dinner, or a 'Argila' (flavoured tobacco waterpipe.) The cities various coffee shops, bars, and restaurants are a must see/visit. The nicer ones are often available closer the older city, and on the road going to Betunia, while some good ones can also be found outside the city center.
Palestinians seem to love fresh fruit-juice. For under ₪10 you can get a large juice with a mixture of anything from Pomegranate to Orange juice.
1 Silwadi (on Al-Manara square). This juice shop is the most famous and has been around for decades. Silwadi's something of a purist serving only pure juice.
2 Alsham Cafe (on Al-Manara square just below Stars & Bucks.). This one also serves a cocktail which includes ice-cream, nuts and dried fruit as well as chocolate sauce. ₪7-15.
Coffee shops
Ramallah offers a wide variety of coffeeshops ranging from the local low-scale ones serving Arabic Coffee for ₪2, to those fancy places serving the same item for ₪10-15. Try the Arabic drinks (arabic coffee, mint tea, sahleb, etc ), cappucinos and lattes, and fresh juices and cocktails at the numerous cafes around downtown and in the suburbs.
'Coffee shops' are places to drink coffee and smoke waterpipes. The term Argila is often used in Ramallah to describe the waterpipes, while Shishah is also used at some places. You might even see 'Hookah' or 'Hubbly Bubbly'. You can also smoke Arghila in almost any restaurant, although some have special areas for them.
You can order normal ('aadi') or fresh ('fresh'). Fresh means the tobacco is placed in a piece of fruit like an orange (or even a watermelon). It has a smoother flavour but is more expensive. You should also choose your flavour. Common flavours are double-apple ('tufateen') and lemon and mint ('limun-w-nana').
Depending on the location and type of restaurant of cafe, the price of smoking a nice and soothing tobacco waterpipe costs anywhere between ₪8-30. The cheapest places do have an unwritten men-only rule, however.
A mobile coffee stand (usually found at Rukab street two blocks west from Manara Square). Serving the arguably best sahlab in town. ₪4.
Baladna (next to Rukab icecream). a cheap 'Coffee Shop' with an un-written men-only rule. It is packed every day for most of the evening. A normal Arghila is about ₪8.
Tarwee'a (Main Street/Tireh Street near the Arab Bank). A midrange 'Coffee Shop' which accepts men and women
Also try "European" and "Karameh" on main street.
Pubs
Popular local places to get served alcohol are Zan's, Zryiab, Stones, Angelo's, and Sangria's. They all serve food as well and the local Palestinian beer "Taybeh" (which can challenge most European beers). For more robust beer lovers, Taybeh also comes in a delightfully rich tasting dark version although this isn't as widely sold as the lighter ale.
Most neighborhoods, particularly traditionally Christian ones have a couple of stores that sell beer, wine and spirits.
Silwadi Juice Shop, al-Manara Square (Right on the central square in Ramallah). 7am to midnight. Silwadi juice shop is the most famous juice shop in Ramallah. It has been in the same place for decades. They only serve fresh juice. Choose from a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Under ₪10.
Snobar, Masaif (al-Irsal) 10 minutes from the centre off the left from al-Irsal street. Evenings. Snobar is an open-air summer bar about 5 minutes in a taxi from the centre of the city. Snobar means pine tree in Arabic and the area is enclosed by tall pines. There is an outdoor swimming pool which is open in the afternoons. Food and alcohol available. ₪20 for a beer.
Radio, Al-Masyoun Area,Turn left at the lights next to the HSBC on Beitunya Road. Beit Anisa was the name now it is radio is Ramallah's latest addition to the nightlife and feels more like a bar in London's Soho. It attracts a mixture of locals, foreigners and others. Alcohol available. ₪25 for a Beer.
Orjwan, Al-Masyoun Area (Near the Sakakini Centre). Evenings. Orjwan is Ramallah's premium nightspot attracting the higher echelons. Holiday-snaps from Orjwan might not look out of place with those from New York or London. ₪20-30 for a Beer.
Taybeh Beer Brewery Taybeh village, negotiate a wage for taxi ride from Ramallah's bus station or catch a serveese to Taybeh. Run and operated by the Palestinian-American Khoury family, this is one of only a handful of micro-breweries in the Middle East.
It creates the famous Palestinian beer called "Taybeh" and gets it's name from the village that it is made in,the only 100% Palestinian Christian village in Palestine. They offer a tour of their factory and have a gift shop and fresh and very, very, very cheap beer on sale. The village of Taybeh also hosts it's very own Oktoberfest-style festival on the first week of October in Taybeh village ₪5 per beer.
Fiego (in the old city). An upscale and very cosy place in an old city building, with great lights, a warming fireplace for cold winter nights, friendly staff and excellent drinks. small beer ₪17, cocktails ₪35.
Accomodation
Hostel in Ramallah, Arafat square al-nuzha street (Almaktaba) 12 (from Ramallah bus station walk 5 min to Arafat square (ask at silwadi juice at al-manara square) Check-in: any time, check-out: 12:00. The first youth hostel in Ramallah. Including breakfast and city tour, political yours and introduction to Palestine, roof terrace and bar local beers cooking Palestinian food great city view. Close to night life in a safe zone in the city at night. Hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and many other activities can be organised. If you stay here you can collect a stamp for the AubergInn in Jericho for a steep discount of ₪100 to ₪60 (dorm bed). Also, the Nablus Youth Hostel offers a discount of ₪70 to ₪60 if you get recommended by Hostel in Ramallah. Dorm bed ₪50.
Al Wehdeh Hotel, Al Nahdah Street,Great Hotel, but a little run down but the cheapest in town.. single ₪150.
Merryland Hostel, 3rd floor of Al Ramoni building close to al-mactaba, No dormitories, so not really a hostel.Single ₪150, Double ₪180.
Al-Hajjal (on Jaffa Road),
Area D Hostel, Top Floor, Maliki Building, between Jerusalem bus station (#18) and main mosque al-bireh (At the bus station arriving from Jerusalem, take street towards big mosque and enter the second building on your right. Take the elevator to the top floor. You will see our sign on the building from the bus station. At night, enter via the parking garage using the doorbell there.), Check-in: 24/7, check-out: 24/7. Area D was recently selected as the Lonely Planet editor's top choice in town, and it focuses on the political situation, with lots of information and tours. A place to relax for a few days, get to know the city and its people, and learn more about this fascinating part of the world. Dorms for 70 NIS, Private rooms for 200 NIS/room, Apartments for 400 USD/month.
Mid-Class
City Inn Palace.
Best Eastern.
Rocky Hotel.
High Class
Grand Park Hotel. The most common destination in the city for businessmen and government officials. Room prices vary according to season, but often exceed the US$80 per night.
Royal Court Suites Hotel. An all-suites hotel where every room has a kitchenette and A/C. Daily and monthly rates in a tourist area close to restaurants and bars. Prices US$50-140, depending on type of suite.
Safety
Generally speaking, Ramallah is safe for non-Israeli foreigners. The Palestinian residents are usually quite happy to have foreign nationals visit them. Theft is relatively rare, although do not interpret that statement as an OK to let your guard down.
Bear in mind that although Ramallah has been under military occupation for a long time, the city is relatively stable. However, very rarely the Israeli military enters the city to arrest wanted Palestinians. This usually only happens in the dead of night, and they disappear before anyone realizes that they were there.
However, the Israeli military can enter Ramallah bluntly, and in large numbers. If this should happen while you are staying in Ramallah, do what the majority of Palestinians do, and stay inside until they leave and away from any soldiers or military vehicles. Do not assume that just because you are a foreign national that you will be safe.
That said, Ramallah hasn't seen any widespread violence since 2006 and it is highly unlikely to happen,unless there are escalations with Israel, which will be very apparent via international media. In the cases where the Israelis enter, it is usually to arrest a wanted Palestinian in an outskirts refugee camp in the middle of the night. They will rarely enter the city centre, so as to avoid an unnecessary confrontation with large crowds of civilians.
There are at least four bus stations in Ramallah. Simply ask around or at your accommodation which one is the relevant one for your next destination.
Jerusalem – Besides the Dead Sea, a central focus for most people coming to this region.
Nablus – One of the oldest cities in the world and famous for its kunafa/kenafeh.
Bethlehem – The biblical birthplace of Jesus and hometown of David, surrounded by Mar Saba Monastery and Herodium (Herodion) Park.
Jericho – One of the oldest settlements in the world and the Middle East, and a great starting point for Kalya Beach at the Dead Sea.
Wednesday, 10 May 2017
ISRAEL: $55 Million Project For Dead Sea Beaches
Israeli Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin dedicated a new 3-mile-long promenade along the Dead Sea beachfront at Ein Bokek Monday, as part of a $55 million project seeking to revive the Dead Sea hotel district.
The Dead Sea infrastructure project, which began in 2012 and concluded in 2016, was developed to combat flooding occurring at the body of water’s southern basin.
The initiative—which is jointly funded by the Israeli government and Dead Sea Works, a supplier of potash mineral salts—saw engineers raise the level of the hotel district’s beaches by 6.5 feet.
Additionally, saltwater-proof clay berms have been installed along the entire length of Ein Bokek’s beaches.
The tourism minister also announced proposals for a major expansion including the construction of at least 12 new hotels. The facilities would add 3,700 hotel rooms—on top of the current 4,000—to the Ein Bokek district, and would bring 20,000 more jobs to the Dead Sea region.
According to Levin, the new hotels would be more environmentally friendly, while blend into the natural landscape.
The Dead Sea is one of the most fascinating water bodies on earth. It is famous for its ‘extra’ salty water, so much so that people float rather than sink due to its high density,higher than that of the human body.
Owing to its hypersalinity, the sea does not have any fish or other macroscopic water animals.
is no wonder that early visitors named this lake the ‘Sea of Death’. In addition to its ‘briny’ nature, the Dead Sea has another unique recognition – it sits 417 meters below the mean sea level!
This fact makes it the lowest place on the surface of the earth,not counting the ocean surface here.
The Dead Sea is a sought-after tourist destination owing to its water’s therapeutic properties. There are numerous resorts and spas on its coast. The brine allows the adjoining countries to extract potash, a prominent agricultural fertilizer.
Interesting Facts about Dead Sea
Located in the Jordan Rift Valley in West Asia, the Dead Sea is fed by the River Jordan and other small streams. It also acts as a border between Jordan to the east and the countries of Israel and the West Bank to the west.
A famous geological feature here is the Al-Lisan Peninsula, which is situated on the southern end of the lake. Lisan in Arabic means ‘tongue’! It is considered as one of the most salty parts of the Sea.
The water, though, does not leave the lake by flowing out. Due to the high temperature and dry climate, the Dead Sea experiences high levels of evaporation round the year, keeping the water level from overflowing. The high evaporation is also a reason of the heavy salinity of the lake.
Dead-Sea-Water Therapy
The 33.7% saltiness is therapeutic in many ways. It is believed taking a dip in the waters can be quite effective in soothing diseases like diabetes, rheumatism, psoriasis, etc. Moreover, the minerals found in and around the lake are considered to be present in the human body naturally, making it easy for the body to absorb its therapeutic goodness effectively. It is better not to swallow the salt water though,as it is known to cause choking due to inflation of the larynx.
How Salty is the Dead Sea?
If you have tasted the Dead Sea waters, you know – it does not taste salty at all! It in fact it tastes bitter. Scientists believe that the 340 grams of salt per liter of water can make the solution so salty that the sensation confuses the mind to think that it’s bitter.
Dead Sea is not Dead
The popular notion that there is no life growing in the Dead Sea is not completely true. Scientists have found craters at the bottom of the lake from which freshwater emerges. This makes the Dead Sea’s salinity fluctuate with time. In fact, this caused parts of the sea to turn red due to red algae growth (which are known to resist the salt-content fluctuation) in 1980 and 1992. At present, you can find clusters of bacteria, algae or fungi in some parts of the lake.
Historical Significance
When you visit the Dead Sea, know this – it has been there for almost three million years. It is believed that the lake was first spotted by Herod the Great (73 to 4 BC), the Roman King of Judea well known for his architectural achievements. Cleopatra is also believed to have promoted the goodness of the Dead Sea water. Another section of believers state Biblical references, where, although not prominently mentioned, the Dead Sea was a significant barricade for the Ammonites and Moabites’ army when they went out to fight with Jehoshaphat (873 to 849 BC), then ruler of Judah. For centuries, the Dead Sea has been mentioned in various writings, like those by Aristotle; it has also been used by the Egyptians for mummifying their pharaohsdue to its saline soil and asphalt.
Know more about the location and get travel information about the salt lake, visit Dead Sea
The Dead Sea infrastructure project, which began in 2012 and concluded in 2016, was developed to combat flooding occurring at the body of water’s southern basin.
The initiative—which is jointly funded by the Israeli government and Dead Sea Works, a supplier of potash mineral salts—saw engineers raise the level of the hotel district’s beaches by 6.5 feet.
Additionally, saltwater-proof clay berms have been installed along the entire length of Ein Bokek’s beaches.
The tourism minister also announced proposals for a major expansion including the construction of at least 12 new hotels. The facilities would add 3,700 hotel rooms—on top of the current 4,000—to the Ein Bokek district, and would bring 20,000 more jobs to the Dead Sea region.
According to Levin, the new hotels would be more environmentally friendly, while blend into the natural landscape.
The Dead Sea is one of the most fascinating water bodies on earth. It is famous for its ‘extra’ salty water, so much so that people float rather than sink due to its high density,higher than that of the human body.
Owing to its hypersalinity, the sea does not have any fish or other macroscopic water animals.
is no wonder that early visitors named this lake the ‘Sea of Death’. In addition to its ‘briny’ nature, the Dead Sea has another unique recognition – it sits 417 meters below the mean sea level!
This fact makes it the lowest place on the surface of the earth,not counting the ocean surface here.
The Dead Sea is a sought-after tourist destination owing to its water’s therapeutic properties. There are numerous resorts and spas on its coast. The brine allows the adjoining countries to extract potash, a prominent agricultural fertilizer.
Interesting Facts about Dead Sea
Located in the Jordan Rift Valley in West Asia, the Dead Sea is fed by the River Jordan and other small streams. It also acts as a border between Jordan to the east and the countries of Israel and the West Bank to the west.
A famous geological feature here is the Al-Lisan Peninsula, which is situated on the southern end of the lake. Lisan in Arabic means ‘tongue’! It is considered as one of the most salty parts of the Sea.
The water, though, does not leave the lake by flowing out. Due to the high temperature and dry climate, the Dead Sea experiences high levels of evaporation round the year, keeping the water level from overflowing. The high evaporation is also a reason of the heavy salinity of the lake.
Dead-Sea-Water Therapy
The 33.7% saltiness is therapeutic in many ways. It is believed taking a dip in the waters can be quite effective in soothing diseases like diabetes, rheumatism, psoriasis, etc. Moreover, the minerals found in and around the lake are considered to be present in the human body naturally, making it easy for the body to absorb its therapeutic goodness effectively. It is better not to swallow the salt water though,as it is known to cause choking due to inflation of the larynx.
How Salty is the Dead Sea?
If you have tasted the Dead Sea waters, you know – it does not taste salty at all! It in fact it tastes bitter. Scientists believe that the 340 grams of salt per liter of water can make the solution so salty that the sensation confuses the mind to think that it’s bitter.
Dead Sea is not Dead
The popular notion that there is no life growing in the Dead Sea is not completely true. Scientists have found craters at the bottom of the lake from which freshwater emerges. This makes the Dead Sea’s salinity fluctuate with time. In fact, this caused parts of the sea to turn red due to red algae growth (which are known to resist the salt-content fluctuation) in 1980 and 1992. At present, you can find clusters of bacteria, algae or fungi in some parts of the lake.
Historical Significance
When you visit the Dead Sea, know this – it has been there for almost three million years. It is believed that the lake was first spotted by Herod the Great (73 to 4 BC), the Roman King of Judea well known for his architectural achievements. Cleopatra is also believed to have promoted the goodness of the Dead Sea water. Another section of believers state Biblical references, where, although not prominently mentioned, the Dead Sea was a significant barricade for the Ammonites and Moabites’ army when they went out to fight with Jehoshaphat (873 to 849 BC), then ruler of Judah. For centuries, the Dead Sea has been mentioned in various writings, like those by Aristotle; it has also been used by the Egyptians for mummifying their pharaohsdue to its saline soil and asphalt.
Know more about the location and get travel information about the salt lake, visit Dead Sea
Friday, 28 April 2017
JORDAN: Jordan Hosts AdventureNEXT Conference 15-17/ May
Jordan will on May 15-17 host AdventureNEXT Near East, the first conference to develop ecotourism and travel throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
The event - organized with the support of Jordan's tourism and antiquities ministry and the Jordan Tourism Board - will be held alongside the inauguration of the 650-km Jordan Trail, which will cross 52 villages across the country. The Jordan Trail is expected to lead to economic growth for the local communities.
Taking part will be tourism boards, travel agents and representatives of hotel facilities strongly supporting sustainable, responsible and adventure tourism that are members of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), a body that has 1,100 associates in 90 countries.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Lina Annab Tuesday said Jordan's largest tourism investments are located in Amman, the Dead Sea and Aqaba, pointing out that the value of current investments in Aqaba and the Dead Sea amount to about JOD16 billion.
Annab is heading the Jordanian delegation participating in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2017 in Dubai, running through Thursday with the participation of 159 countries.
She told Petra that most recent include the Ayla Oasis, which includes the first 18-hole golf course designed by the legendary golfer Greg Norman, Saraya Aqaba and Marsa Zayed, in the southern port of Aqaba.
Annab said Amman is currently witnessing significant tourism investments, such as the St. Regis and Fairmont hotel projects and the Abdali Boulevard project, which includes Rotana hotels and a chain of international restaurants.
ATM 2017 will welcome over 2,600 confirmed exhibitors – with 100 exhibiting for the first time – across 65 national pavilions, and an expected number of visitors of 30,000.
Weeks after last month's deadly castle siege in the Jordanian city of Karak, police maintained a daily presence in an armoured Jeep in the heart of the capital Amman.
A helmeted police officer constantly manned the heavy machinegun affixed to the Jeep's roof, scanning cars and pedestrians as they navigated through the central neighbourhood of Jabal al-Weibdeh. Other officers stopped and searched vehicles and pedestrians, a patrol that continued up until last week.
A vibrant neighbourhood comprising Jordanian Muslims, Christians and foreigners, Jabal al-Weibdeh is in many ways an example of the tolerant image that Jordan wants to project to the world - while the heavy, yet temporary police presence illustrates the fine line that Jordan must tread between visible security and not deterring tourists.
In 2015, tourism contributed 6 percent directly to Jordan's GDP, and more than 20 percent indirectly, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
After the Karak siege, the United States warned its citizens of "threats from terrorist groups throughout Jordan", adding to fears about the impacts of the attack on Jordan's tourism sector.
The modern Jordanian tourism industry was born out of conflict - in particular, Israel's capture and occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank in 1967, said Suleiman Farajat, an assistant professor of tourism at the University of Jordan.
"When Jordan lost the West Bank in 1967, it became very important to focus on Jordanian sites in the east, starting from Petra, where the first management plan was done in 1968," Farajat told Al Jazeera.
With the rise of oil in the region in the 1970s, the inscription of Petra as a World Heritage Site in 1985, and the filming of 1989's Indiana Jones in Petra, Jordan's international profile rose. The country's peace treaty with Israel in 1994, Farajat said, was a real turning point "when numbers of tourists doubled, and when the infrastructure of tourism became more visible".
But subsequent regional conflicts, including the 2003 Iraq war and the ongoing violence in Syria and Iraq, have heavily impacted Jordan's tourism industry, causing tourist numbers to fall. Visitor numbers to Petra were halved between 2014 and 2015, dropping from 800,000 to 400,000.
Tourism industry workers are concerned about what lies ahead. Ahmad, a tour guide who works at the Greco-Roman ruins at Jerash - which were also under tightened security after the Karak siege - has witnessed the steady decline in numbers first-hand.
Since the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011, he estimates there has been an 80 percent drop in tourists to Jerash.
"In the high season, we used to do up to five tours a day, each tour guide. Now in the high season we do one every day, sometimes one every two days," said Ahmad, who did not provide a last name.
He noted that his profession faces a secondary threat from the increased automation of tour-guide services, including cheaper, headphone audio-guided tours.
When they do come to Jordan, tourists' demographics have also changed, Ahmad said including the replacement of "retirees, Americans, Europeans, on a regular, or traditional tour", with younger, often poorer, tourists.
"This is reflected in the budget of the tourist. Mostly, the majority come here on a tight budget," he explained, noting that entrance fees to some of Jordan's tourist sites may be prohibitively high. A one-month entry visa to Jordan costs 40 Jordanian dinars ($56), while the entrance fee for a one-day visit to Petra is 50 dinars ($70).
When Ahmad began working as a tour guide in 2010, it was a coveted career, he said.
"In the past it used to be a full-time job, and they used to make very good money. It was the best job to do in Jordan. Some professors left teaching in universities and became tour guides," he explained. "But now it's the opposite. Tour guides are looking for other jobs."
As many tour guides struggle to maintain a steady income and morale plummets, Farajat said, this "indirectly influences the quality of service and the culture of service", harming Jordan's competitive advantage in the international market.
Still, with attacks being staged everywhere from Paris to Berlin, tourists are realising that "it could happen anywhere," Ahmad noted.
"We had the attack in Karak, and the attack in Germany. How many people were killed here, and there? In Jordan, 10. In Germany, 12," Ahmad recalled telling a group of young, western tourists in Karak on the day of last month's siege.
If you talk about terrorism, now it's everywhere in the world. So there's no point in avoiding this country or that, because it can happen in every country.
Farajat cited the importance of tourism as a way to counter Islamophobic narratives in the West.
It's very important in this time of Islamophobia, that tourists come here and see that we are normal people. We don't bite, he said with a laugh. That's important, right?
Certain areas of Jordan, especially the tourist draws of Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba - may be hit hardest by any fallout from the Karak siege.
But Tourism Minister Lina Annab, who kept her post in this month's cabinet shuffle, played down reports of declining tourist numbers during a recent news conference.
"It's business as usual and the cancellations have been minimal. Unfortunately, as for danger, there is no place that is 100 percent safe," Annab said. The tourism ministry did not respond to requests for further comment.
When spring finally arrives, bringing warmer weather and wild-flower-covered hills, Ahmad and his colleagues hope more tourists will flock back to the country.
Until then, they must persevere, returning to Petra yet again without knowing whether the next day will bring work.
The event - organized with the support of Jordan's tourism and antiquities ministry and the Jordan Tourism Board - will be held alongside the inauguration of the 650-km Jordan Trail, which will cross 52 villages across the country. The Jordan Trail is expected to lead to economic growth for the local communities.
Taking part will be tourism boards, travel agents and representatives of hotel facilities strongly supporting sustainable, responsible and adventure tourism that are members of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), a body that has 1,100 associates in 90 countries.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Lina Annab Tuesday said Jordan's largest tourism investments are located in Amman, the Dead Sea and Aqaba, pointing out that the value of current investments in Aqaba and the Dead Sea amount to about JOD16 billion.
Annab is heading the Jordanian delegation participating in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2017 in Dubai, running through Thursday with the participation of 159 countries.
She told Petra that most recent include the Ayla Oasis, which includes the first 18-hole golf course designed by the legendary golfer Greg Norman, Saraya Aqaba and Marsa Zayed, in the southern port of Aqaba.
Annab said Amman is currently witnessing significant tourism investments, such as the St. Regis and Fairmont hotel projects and the Abdali Boulevard project, which includes Rotana hotels and a chain of international restaurants.
ATM 2017 will welcome over 2,600 confirmed exhibitors – with 100 exhibiting for the first time – across 65 national pavilions, and an expected number of visitors of 30,000.
Weeks after last month's deadly castle siege in the Jordanian city of Karak, police maintained a daily presence in an armoured Jeep in the heart of the capital Amman.
A helmeted police officer constantly manned the heavy machinegun affixed to the Jeep's roof, scanning cars and pedestrians as they navigated through the central neighbourhood of Jabal al-Weibdeh. Other officers stopped and searched vehicles and pedestrians, a patrol that continued up until last week.
A vibrant neighbourhood comprising Jordanian Muslims, Christians and foreigners, Jabal al-Weibdeh is in many ways an example of the tolerant image that Jordan wants to project to the world - while the heavy, yet temporary police presence illustrates the fine line that Jordan must tread between visible security and not deterring tourists.
In 2015, tourism contributed 6 percent directly to Jordan's GDP, and more than 20 percent indirectly, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
After the Karak siege, the United States warned its citizens of "threats from terrorist groups throughout Jordan", adding to fears about the impacts of the attack on Jordan's tourism sector.
The modern Jordanian tourism industry was born out of conflict - in particular, Israel's capture and occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank in 1967, said Suleiman Farajat, an assistant professor of tourism at the University of Jordan.
"When Jordan lost the West Bank in 1967, it became very important to focus on Jordanian sites in the east, starting from Petra, where the first management plan was done in 1968," Farajat told Al Jazeera.
With the rise of oil in the region in the 1970s, the inscription of Petra as a World Heritage Site in 1985, and the filming of 1989's Indiana Jones in Petra, Jordan's international profile rose. The country's peace treaty with Israel in 1994, Farajat said, was a real turning point "when numbers of tourists doubled, and when the infrastructure of tourism became more visible".
But subsequent regional conflicts, including the 2003 Iraq war and the ongoing violence in Syria and Iraq, have heavily impacted Jordan's tourism industry, causing tourist numbers to fall. Visitor numbers to Petra were halved between 2014 and 2015, dropping from 800,000 to 400,000.
Tourism industry workers are concerned about what lies ahead. Ahmad, a tour guide who works at the Greco-Roman ruins at Jerash - which were also under tightened security after the Karak siege - has witnessed the steady decline in numbers first-hand.
Since the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011, he estimates there has been an 80 percent drop in tourists to Jerash.
"In the high season, we used to do up to five tours a day, each tour guide. Now in the high season we do one every day, sometimes one every two days," said Ahmad, who did not provide a last name.
He noted that his profession faces a secondary threat from the increased automation of tour-guide services, including cheaper, headphone audio-guided tours.
When they do come to Jordan, tourists' demographics have also changed, Ahmad said including the replacement of "retirees, Americans, Europeans, on a regular, or traditional tour", with younger, often poorer, tourists.
"This is reflected in the budget of the tourist. Mostly, the majority come here on a tight budget," he explained, noting that entrance fees to some of Jordan's tourist sites may be prohibitively high. A one-month entry visa to Jordan costs 40 Jordanian dinars ($56), while the entrance fee for a one-day visit to Petra is 50 dinars ($70).
When Ahmad began working as a tour guide in 2010, it was a coveted career, he said.
"In the past it used to be a full-time job, and they used to make very good money. It was the best job to do in Jordan. Some professors left teaching in universities and became tour guides," he explained. "But now it's the opposite. Tour guides are looking for other jobs."
As many tour guides struggle to maintain a steady income and morale plummets, Farajat said, this "indirectly influences the quality of service and the culture of service", harming Jordan's competitive advantage in the international market.
Still, with attacks being staged everywhere from Paris to Berlin, tourists are realising that "it could happen anywhere," Ahmad noted.
"We had the attack in Karak, and the attack in Germany. How many people were killed here, and there? In Jordan, 10. In Germany, 12," Ahmad recalled telling a group of young, western tourists in Karak on the day of last month's siege.
If you talk about terrorism, now it's everywhere in the world. So there's no point in avoiding this country or that, because it can happen in every country.
Farajat cited the importance of tourism as a way to counter Islamophobic narratives in the West.
It's very important in this time of Islamophobia, that tourists come here and see that we are normal people. We don't bite, he said with a laugh. That's important, right?
Certain areas of Jordan, especially the tourist draws of Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba - may be hit hardest by any fallout from the Karak siege.
But Tourism Minister Lina Annab, who kept her post in this month's cabinet shuffle, played down reports of declining tourist numbers during a recent news conference.
"It's business as usual and the cancellations have been minimal. Unfortunately, as for danger, there is no place that is 100 percent safe," Annab said. The tourism ministry did not respond to requests for further comment.
When spring finally arrives, bringing warmer weather and wild-flower-covered hills, Ahmad and his colleagues hope more tourists will flock back to the country.
Until then, they must persevere, returning to Petra yet again without knowing whether the next day will bring work.
Sunday, 26 March 2017
PALESTINE: West Bank Tourism Very Low, Palestinians Blame Israel
The Palestinian National Authority has been making increased efforts to attract tourists to its historical religious sites.
However, earnings from tourism are still meager with the West Bank under tight Israeli control.
Watchtowers, barbed wire, and rifle-toting Israeli soldiers can't be an attractive sight for tourists heading to Palestine to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, to see the Church of the Nativity and to eat some tasty hummus. They hardly ever remain overnight.
The government data shows that last year tourism rebounded with 2.4 million foreign visitors. The figure is slightly higher against 2.2 million the year before but is still below the 2.5 million in 2014.
At the same time, very few visitors spend the night in the Palestinian territories.
Hotel stays by foreign visitors declined from 1.1 million in 2014 to 906,000 last year, compared to 8.5 million tourists staying in Israel in 2016.
According to the most recent data, Israel earned over $6 billion from tourism last year, while Palestinian areas reported less than $1.1 billion in 2014.
The annual rush to Bethlehem at Christmas does not bring these lands enough revenue. Tourists spend the day visiting the Holy sites and leave without spending much cash.
Moreover, most visitors go to Palestinian areas via Israel, which gets the first crack at serving them.
Political tension does not help the occupied territories attract tourists. “If we had an independent state, it would be magnificent,” said Saeb Erekat, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), who puts hope on Christians flocking to Bethlehem year-round, bike trails through the Jordan Valley and sunbathing and spas on the Dead Sea.
Last year, the PLO accused Israel of obscuring the Palestinian identity of the most famous West Bank sites by rebranding them as the “Holy Land.”
The Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association hardly disputed the complaint.
“All tourists go through our system. Palestinian areas are an extension of our product,” said the head of Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association.
At the same time, Palestinian infrastructure can hardly provide competition with European-quality roads, cafes, and hotels that Israel can boast.
There’s only one five-star hotel in Bethlehem, but it hasn’t seen any repairs in years.
The city has few to offer the travelers compared to Jerusalem’s Old City attractions.
Manger Square, a city square in the center of Bethlehem, is surrounded by gift shops selling cheap olive wood renderings of the Madonna and Child, pearl-inlaid boxes, and T-shirts saying “I Love Palestine.” It takes a visitor an hour to explore the old town beyond the square.
The Walled Off Hotel is one of the most recent attempts to hook in some tourists. Opened by the London street artist Banksy, the guesthouse boasts “worst views of any hotel in the world,” as the windows of its ten rooms look out on to the 5-meter graffiti-covered concrete wall built to prevent Palestinians from getting into Israeli territory.
The three-story hotel has a low-lit bar, and restaurant decorated like a British colonial clubhouse, with ironic works by the artist covering the walls. The inn is fully booked until June.
“We hope to raise international awareness of how ugly this wall is and in that way contribute to peace,” says hotel manager Wissam Salsaa.
However, earnings from tourism are still meager with the West Bank under tight Israeli control.
Watchtowers, barbed wire, and rifle-toting Israeli soldiers can't be an attractive sight for tourists heading to Palestine to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, to see the Church of the Nativity and to eat some tasty hummus. They hardly ever remain overnight.
The government data shows that last year tourism rebounded with 2.4 million foreign visitors. The figure is slightly higher against 2.2 million the year before but is still below the 2.5 million in 2014.
At the same time, very few visitors spend the night in the Palestinian territories.
Hotel stays by foreign visitors declined from 1.1 million in 2014 to 906,000 last year, compared to 8.5 million tourists staying in Israel in 2016.
According to the most recent data, Israel earned over $6 billion from tourism last year, while Palestinian areas reported less than $1.1 billion in 2014.
The annual rush to Bethlehem at Christmas does not bring these lands enough revenue. Tourists spend the day visiting the Holy sites and leave without spending much cash.
Moreover, most visitors go to Palestinian areas via Israel, which gets the first crack at serving them.
Political tension does not help the occupied territories attract tourists. “If we had an independent state, it would be magnificent,” said Saeb Erekat, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), who puts hope on Christians flocking to Bethlehem year-round, bike trails through the Jordan Valley and sunbathing and spas on the Dead Sea.
Last year, the PLO accused Israel of obscuring the Palestinian identity of the most famous West Bank sites by rebranding them as the “Holy Land.”
The Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association hardly disputed the complaint.
“All tourists go through our system. Palestinian areas are an extension of our product,” said the head of Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association.
At the same time, Palestinian infrastructure can hardly provide competition with European-quality roads, cafes, and hotels that Israel can boast.
There’s only one five-star hotel in Bethlehem, but it hasn’t seen any repairs in years.
The city has few to offer the travelers compared to Jerusalem’s Old City attractions.
Manger Square, a city square in the center of Bethlehem, is surrounded by gift shops selling cheap olive wood renderings of the Madonna and Child, pearl-inlaid boxes, and T-shirts saying “I Love Palestine.” It takes a visitor an hour to explore the old town beyond the square.
The Walled Off Hotel is one of the most recent attempts to hook in some tourists. Opened by the London street artist Banksy, the guesthouse boasts “worst views of any hotel in the world,” as the windows of its ten rooms look out on to the 5-meter graffiti-covered concrete wall built to prevent Palestinians from getting into Israeli territory.
The three-story hotel has a low-lit bar, and restaurant decorated like a British colonial clubhouse, with ironic works by the artist covering the walls. The inn is fully booked until June.
“We hope to raise international awareness of how ugly this wall is and in that way contribute to peace,” says hotel manager Wissam Salsaa.
ISRAEL: Chinese Tourists Increase,White Flowers Symbolize Death And Mourning In Chinese Culture
The Ministry of Tourism’s investment in promoting Israel in China has paid dividends, with a 68.6% increase from 2015 to 2016.
The ministry has invested nearly ten million shekels a year, and China’s largest private airline, Hainan, started offering flights to Israel.
The Ministry of Tourism’s data show that 79,268 tourists from China visited Israel in 2016, but the ministry’s goal is to cross the 100,000 barrier in number of Chinese tourists per year.
Hoteliers adapt their offerings, from breakfast to flower colors, to accommodate the 69% boom in tourists from China. These visitors benefit the Israeli economy by spending 69% more than their European counterparts per day in the country.
The average Chinese visitor is extremely interested in Israeli history and culture from biblical times to the modern high-tech boom.
The preferred destination is Jerusalem, with 81% of Chinese tourists visiting the capital with most making sure to visit the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Despite Jerusalem’s popularity, Israel’s second city still receives a fair amount of Chinese tourists, with 71% visiting Tel Aviv. The Dead Sea sees 56% of the Chinese who come to Israel.
According to the official data, the average Chinese tourist spends considerably more in Israel than the average European, with the former spending about $267 per day versus the latter’s $158.
Israeli hoteliers at the Dan and Isrotel chains have sought to adapt their offerings to their new guests from the Far East, with many hotels establishing a “Chinese corner” in the breakfast room.
Apparently, many non-Chinese guests have also taken to the rice congee and steamed broccoli to start their day rather than the traditional Israeli offerings of salads, cheeses and baked goods.
Roy Kriezman, Manager of China and Far East Markets at Dan, says that representatives from his hotel chain are travelling to China to learn from Chinese hotels how best to accommodate the influx of new visitors.
In addition to the breakfast offerings, modifications for Chinese guests include the coffee selections in the rooms being switched out with teas, the addition of two Chinese television station, written information being provided in Chinese, and providing smaller complimentary slippers.
A seemingly small detail has also been addressed, Kriezman shared: flower colors. Dan learned to change out the white flowers in its room with red ones, as white flowers symbolize death and mourning in Chinese culture.
The ministry has invested nearly ten million shekels a year, and China’s largest private airline, Hainan, started offering flights to Israel.
The Ministry of Tourism’s data show that 79,268 tourists from China visited Israel in 2016, but the ministry’s goal is to cross the 100,000 barrier in number of Chinese tourists per year.
Hoteliers adapt their offerings, from breakfast to flower colors, to accommodate the 69% boom in tourists from China. These visitors benefit the Israeli economy by spending 69% more than their European counterparts per day in the country.
The average Chinese visitor is extremely interested in Israeli history and culture from biblical times to the modern high-tech boom.
The preferred destination is Jerusalem, with 81% of Chinese tourists visiting the capital with most making sure to visit the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Despite Jerusalem’s popularity, Israel’s second city still receives a fair amount of Chinese tourists, with 71% visiting Tel Aviv. The Dead Sea sees 56% of the Chinese who come to Israel.
According to the official data, the average Chinese tourist spends considerably more in Israel than the average European, with the former spending about $267 per day versus the latter’s $158.
Israeli hoteliers at the Dan and Isrotel chains have sought to adapt their offerings to their new guests from the Far East, with many hotels establishing a “Chinese corner” in the breakfast room.
Apparently, many non-Chinese guests have also taken to the rice congee and steamed broccoli to start their day rather than the traditional Israeli offerings of salads, cheeses and baked goods.
Roy Kriezman, Manager of China and Far East Markets at Dan, says that representatives from his hotel chain are travelling to China to learn from Chinese hotels how best to accommodate the influx of new visitors.
In addition to the breakfast offerings, modifications for Chinese guests include the coffee selections in the rooms being switched out with teas, the addition of two Chinese television station, written information being provided in Chinese, and providing smaller complimentary slippers.
A seemingly small detail has also been addressed, Kriezman shared: flower colors. Dan learned to change out the white flowers in its room with red ones, as white flowers symbolize death and mourning in Chinese culture.
Friday, 20 January 2017
KENYA: Villa Rosa Kempinski Has New General Manager
Villa Rosa Kempinski earlier today announced the appointment of hospitality guru, Mr. Kees Heuveling as the new General Manager, replacing Mr. Manish Nambiar who moved to the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast Accra, Ghana.
Kees’s immediate former position was as a General manager of the luxurious Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square, Vilnius, Lithuania for three years. The career hotelier has over 30-year experience working with some of the world’s finest hotel brands spanning in three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa.
A Dutch national, Kees is fluent in four languages, English, German, French & Dutch. The globe-trotting hotelier has worked in Germany, France, Holland, Great Britain, China, South Korea, Turkey, Jordan, Palestine, Greece, Abu Dhabi, Lithuania and Chad where he worked as General Manager of the Kempinski N‘Djamena.
Kees is not new to the Kempinski brand. He has worked with the European luxury hospitality brand for 10 years in various positions, including top management. He was the General Manager of Kempinski Hotel N'Djamena Chad for 3 years, Hotel Manager, Emirates Palace Hotel Abu Dhabi and The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, Dead Sea, Jordan. He also has a decade experience working with Intercontinental Group of Hotels (IGH).
Keen, who describes himself as a lover of modern art, hiking, sailing, reading and music, said of his appointment: 'I am delighted to be in Kenya and in charge of Kempinski flagship in East Africa and one of a kind tented camp in Masai Mara'.
The Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel in Nairobi, regularly placed as Nairobi's top hotel by leading hotel evaluation sites, is located on Chiromo Road, and offers 200 rooms and suites distributed throughout 10 floors, including a Presidential Suite on the top floor. This suite where President Obama stayed during his 2015 visit to Kenya, has time and again won the accolade as Eastern Africa's best hotel suite.
Also in the Kempinski stable in Kenya is the Olare Mara Kempinski in the Olare Orok conservancy which adjoins one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves, the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The 12 tented luxury suites under canvas with comfortable beds made from local wood cover approximately 80 sq m and are furnished in the classic style of the grand African Safaris with large four poster beds, complemented by modern amenities. The honeymoon suite has its very own plunge pool.
Kees’s immediate former position was as a General manager of the luxurious Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square, Vilnius, Lithuania for three years. The career hotelier has over 30-year experience working with some of the world’s finest hotel brands spanning in three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa.
A Dutch national, Kees is fluent in four languages, English, German, French & Dutch. The globe-trotting hotelier has worked in Germany, France, Holland, Great Britain, China, South Korea, Turkey, Jordan, Palestine, Greece, Abu Dhabi, Lithuania and Chad where he worked as General Manager of the Kempinski N‘Djamena.
Kees is not new to the Kempinski brand. He has worked with the European luxury hospitality brand for 10 years in various positions, including top management. He was the General Manager of Kempinski Hotel N'Djamena Chad for 3 years, Hotel Manager, Emirates Palace Hotel Abu Dhabi and The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, Dead Sea, Jordan. He also has a decade experience working with Intercontinental Group of Hotels (IGH).
Keen, who describes himself as a lover of modern art, hiking, sailing, reading and music, said of his appointment: 'I am delighted to be in Kenya and in charge of Kempinski flagship in East Africa and one of a kind tented camp in Masai Mara'.
The Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel in Nairobi, regularly placed as Nairobi's top hotel by leading hotel evaluation sites, is located on Chiromo Road, and offers 200 rooms and suites distributed throughout 10 floors, including a Presidential Suite on the top floor. This suite where President Obama stayed during his 2015 visit to Kenya, has time and again won the accolade as Eastern Africa's best hotel suite.
Also in the Kempinski stable in Kenya is the Olare Mara Kempinski in the Olare Orok conservancy which adjoins one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves, the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The 12 tented luxury suites under canvas with comfortable beds made from local wood cover approximately 80 sq m and are furnished in the classic style of the grand African Safaris with large four poster beds, complemented by modern amenities. The honeymoon suite has its very own plunge pool.
Thursday, 5 May 2016
ISRAEL: Violence Affects Tourism, Hotel Occupancy In Jerusalem Was Down By 20 Or 30 Percent Last Year
The traditional Passover seder meal ends with a promise, “Next year in Jerusalem.” But at least this year, many American Jews chose to stay away.
“There were far, far fewer tourists this year,” Mark Feldman, the CEO of Ziontours in Jerusalem said. “Many people were scared to come. They felt that the Old City of Jerusalem was off limits completely and that Jerusalem itself was not safe.”
Several hotels contacted for this article refused to release figures on their occupancy over Passover, but Feldman said hotel occupancy, especially in Jerusalem, was down by 20 or 30 percent over last year.
“American and British tourists plan their travel way in advance,” Feldman said. “They had to decide in November or December, when the situation here was very unstable.”
He was referring to what came to be known as the “knife intifada” in which Palestinians, many of them young, stabbed and killed 30 people, most of them Israelis over the past six months. While the situation has calmed down, a bombing on a Jerusalem bus last month that killed only the attacker but wounded 21, sparked anxiety again.
Israel’s Ministry of Tourism says it doesn’t have exact figures for tourism yet but that the situation was “not bad,” according to Pini Shani, the Deputy Director of the Marketing Administration of the Ministry of Tourism.
He said looking at monthly statistics can be complicated, because it depends on other issues such as whether Passover and Easter fall in the same month or in different months. He said that estimates are that about three million tourists will visit Israel this year, similar to 2015.
Tourism during Passover tends to be primarily internal tourism by Israelis, say tourism experts. In March, hotels were 58 percent full, said Pnina Shalev, the spokesperson for the Israel Hotels Association, while in 2015, it was 55 percent. The summer 2014 fighting between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in Gaza, affected tourism, which usually sees hotels 60-70 percent full in March.
“Passover was great with 80-90 percent occupancy in most places,” Shalev told The Media Line. “Eilat (on the Red Sea) was full of Israelis, as was the Dead Sea, Tiberias, and the kibbutzim (collective settlements).”
Israel is also turning eastward, hoping to tap into the burgeoning Chinese market. Shani of the Tourism Ministry said that tourism from India and China is increasing quickly, he said, and Hainan Airlines, the largest private carrier in China, last week launched its first direct flight to Israel. Tourism officials say they hope to see 100,000 tourists from China visiting Israel each year.
Israel has also seen a sharp decline in visitors from Russia, which is Israel’s second largest market after the US, due to the sharp financial crisis there.
Overall Israel, with an average of 3 to 3.5 million tourists annually remains far behind other Mediterranean countries like Greece, which has 25 million visitors a year despite the financial crisis there, or Turkey, with close to 40 million tourists.
Many of those who work in tourism are concerned that the downturn in tourism could become permanent.
“In the summer of 2014 with the operation in Gaza, I had a lot of cancellations and I’ve had very little work since then,” Suzanne Pomeranz, a long-time tour guide originally from North Carolina told The Media Line. “Yesterday I was talking to a high school friend and he said, ‘Why don’t you come home? There’s a war in Israel,’ and I said there is no war here but that’s the way it looks to everyone.”
“There were far, far fewer tourists this year,” Mark Feldman, the CEO of Ziontours in Jerusalem said. “Many people were scared to come. They felt that the Old City of Jerusalem was off limits completely and that Jerusalem itself was not safe.”
Several hotels contacted for this article refused to release figures on their occupancy over Passover, but Feldman said hotel occupancy, especially in Jerusalem, was down by 20 or 30 percent over last year.
“American and British tourists plan their travel way in advance,” Feldman said. “They had to decide in November or December, when the situation here was very unstable.”
He was referring to what came to be known as the “knife intifada” in which Palestinians, many of them young, stabbed and killed 30 people, most of them Israelis over the past six months. While the situation has calmed down, a bombing on a Jerusalem bus last month that killed only the attacker but wounded 21, sparked anxiety again.
Israel’s Ministry of Tourism says it doesn’t have exact figures for tourism yet but that the situation was “not bad,” according to Pini Shani, the Deputy Director of the Marketing Administration of the Ministry of Tourism.
He said looking at monthly statistics can be complicated, because it depends on other issues such as whether Passover and Easter fall in the same month or in different months. He said that estimates are that about three million tourists will visit Israel this year, similar to 2015.
Tourism during Passover tends to be primarily internal tourism by Israelis, say tourism experts. In March, hotels were 58 percent full, said Pnina Shalev, the spokesperson for the Israel Hotels Association, while in 2015, it was 55 percent. The summer 2014 fighting between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in Gaza, affected tourism, which usually sees hotels 60-70 percent full in March.
“Passover was great with 80-90 percent occupancy in most places,” Shalev told The Media Line. “Eilat (on the Red Sea) was full of Israelis, as was the Dead Sea, Tiberias, and the kibbutzim (collective settlements).”
Israel is also turning eastward, hoping to tap into the burgeoning Chinese market. Shani of the Tourism Ministry said that tourism from India and China is increasing quickly, he said, and Hainan Airlines, the largest private carrier in China, last week launched its first direct flight to Israel. Tourism officials say they hope to see 100,000 tourists from China visiting Israel each year.
Israel has also seen a sharp decline in visitors from Russia, which is Israel’s second largest market after the US, due to the sharp financial crisis there.
Overall Israel, with an average of 3 to 3.5 million tourists annually remains far behind other Mediterranean countries like Greece, which has 25 million visitors a year despite the financial crisis there, or Turkey, with close to 40 million tourists.
Many of those who work in tourism are concerned that the downturn in tourism could become permanent.
“In the summer of 2014 with the operation in Gaza, I had a lot of cancellations and I’ve had very little work since then,” Suzanne Pomeranz, a long-time tour guide originally from North Carolina told The Media Line. “Yesterday I was talking to a high school friend and he said, ‘Why don’t you come home? There’s a war in Israel,’ and I said there is no war here but that’s the way it looks to everyone.”
Tuesday, 22 March 2016
Technology Is Revolutionizing The Hotel Industry
Travel agents beware. Technology is revolutionizing the tourism industry in general and the hotel industry in particular.
A further takeover by technology will make tourist agents obsolete.
Although not stated specifically by speakers at the annual meeting of the Israel Hotel Association at the Jerusalem Waldorf Astoria on Tuesday, it was very clear from their “world in your pocket” remarks that anyone with a smart phone and the savvy with which to make use of online data bases has no need to consult a travel agent. Anyone can plan a customized business trip or buy a vacation package by surfing the net, reading guest comments and deciding for themselves what is good value for money and where they will have the best experience.
Technology is so advanced that hotel guests with an iPhone can use it to open the door of their room, check out menus, get directions within the hotel and even check in and out without going to the reception desk.
But just as technology can be one’s best friend, it can also be one’s worst enemy.
The cyber threat hovers everywhere, and last year, according to Assaf Aviv, Senior Cyber Security Consultant at Deloitte Israel, security was breached in 250 hotels in fifty countries.
There are five kinds of cyber threats, he explained. Hackers are making a statement. Corporate companies are gaining a competitive advantage. Government driven operators are into espionage.
Terrorists are creating disruption and criminals are breaching data control systems for financial gain.
For years people were told that technology would make their lives easier, but Roy Weiner, the global President of Sales for Howazit, demonstrated that if hoteliers want to protect their online reputations and avert negative publicity, they have to be available 24/7, and must be alert and aware of what goes on in every department of the hotel.
“Be pro-active. Be available and be informative,” Weiner said, emphasizing that hoteliers must establish contact with the guest before arrival, show the guest an on-screen view of everything the hotel has to offer, greet the guest at check-in, during the stay and after the stay to foster guest loyalty and to get them to return. All these factors combined, he said, reduce negative user reviews by 73 percent.
“You have to automatically handle customer responses. You have to have your finger on the pulse of everything that happens in the hotel. You have to be Big Brother,” he said.
While technology and its impact on the industry was the main subject of the day, it was not the only subject. Noaz Bar- Nir, a former director-general of the Ministry of Tourism and the current director-general of the Israel Hotel Association, said that Israel had gone through a difficult year in terms of incoming tourism and that there was a drastic need to be more competitive.
But the government is not doing enough to make competition feasible, he said. “It’s sending us to compete against our neighbors and Western Europe as if we were dragging an iron ball and chain.”
Although Germany is one of the most expensive tourist destinations in Europe, Bar-Nir said, for an Israeli hotel to earn what a German hotel earns by charging 100 euro a night, the Israeli hotel would have to charge 160 euro.
Moreover, in Germany, he continued, people who come to work in hotels have been fully trained.
In Israel they are trained on the job.
The rate of unemployment in Israel notwithstanding, the hotel industry finds it difficult to recruit local staff. As a result, there are 2,500 Jordanians working in Eilat and in the Dead Sea region.
A further takeover by technology will make tourist agents obsolete.
Although not stated specifically by speakers at the annual meeting of the Israel Hotel Association at the Jerusalem Waldorf Astoria on Tuesday, it was very clear from their “world in your pocket” remarks that anyone with a smart phone and the savvy with which to make use of online data bases has no need to consult a travel agent. Anyone can plan a customized business trip or buy a vacation package by surfing the net, reading guest comments and deciding for themselves what is good value for money and where they will have the best experience.
Technology is so advanced that hotel guests with an iPhone can use it to open the door of their room, check out menus, get directions within the hotel and even check in and out without going to the reception desk.
But just as technology can be one’s best friend, it can also be one’s worst enemy.
The cyber threat hovers everywhere, and last year, according to Assaf Aviv, Senior Cyber Security Consultant at Deloitte Israel, security was breached in 250 hotels in fifty countries.
There are five kinds of cyber threats, he explained. Hackers are making a statement. Corporate companies are gaining a competitive advantage. Government driven operators are into espionage.
Terrorists are creating disruption and criminals are breaching data control systems for financial gain.
For years people were told that technology would make their lives easier, but Roy Weiner, the global President of Sales for Howazit, demonstrated that if hoteliers want to protect their online reputations and avert negative publicity, they have to be available 24/7, and must be alert and aware of what goes on in every department of the hotel.
“Be pro-active. Be available and be informative,” Weiner said, emphasizing that hoteliers must establish contact with the guest before arrival, show the guest an on-screen view of everything the hotel has to offer, greet the guest at check-in, during the stay and after the stay to foster guest loyalty and to get them to return. All these factors combined, he said, reduce negative user reviews by 73 percent.
“You have to automatically handle customer responses. You have to have your finger on the pulse of everything that happens in the hotel. You have to be Big Brother,” he said.
While technology and its impact on the industry was the main subject of the day, it was not the only subject. Noaz Bar- Nir, a former director-general of the Ministry of Tourism and the current director-general of the Israel Hotel Association, said that Israel had gone through a difficult year in terms of incoming tourism and that there was a drastic need to be more competitive.
But the government is not doing enough to make competition feasible, he said. “It’s sending us to compete against our neighbors and Western Europe as if we were dragging an iron ball and chain.”
Although Germany is one of the most expensive tourist destinations in Europe, Bar-Nir said, for an Israeli hotel to earn what a German hotel earns by charging 100 euro a night, the Israeli hotel would have to charge 160 euro.
Moreover, in Germany, he continued, people who come to work in hotels have been fully trained.
In Israel they are trained on the job.
The rate of unemployment in Israel notwithstanding, the hotel industry finds it difficult to recruit local staff. As a result, there are 2,500 Jordanians working in Eilat and in the Dead Sea region.
Thursday, 19 November 2015
EGYPT: Aqaba To Offer Alternative To Sharm El-Sheikh?
Days after the Russian plane crashed in Sinai, the UK halted all flights to Sharm El-Sheikh until the results of the investigation were revealed. Russia shortly followed suit by cancelling all flights to and from Egypt. The Tourism Board in Jordan adopted new measures to encourage Russian tourists to visit Jordan, offering an alternative to the Egypt’s most famous tourism spots in Sinai.
According to the Jordan Times, Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) Abbed Al-Razzaq Arabiyat said they are contacting with Russian and British tour operators to promote tourism to the city of Aqaba. The JTB called on the Royal Wings to offer the Russian market cheaper flights to encourage Russians to visit Jordan, which was welcomed by the airline.
Russian tourism constituted 35% of the total tourism to Egypt, with the tourists reaching two million over the last nine months. The total of Russian tourism expenditure in 2014 amounted to $2.5m out of $7.3m, the total tourism expenditure.
In an attempt to support national tourism, some travel agencies launched packages to Sharm El-Sheikh at affordable prices, such as Tez Tour Egypt.
Jordan enjoys various touristic attractions that can become competition to those of Egypt, especially following the latest incident. The coastal city of Aqaba on the Red Sea has a similar climate to Sharm El-Sheikh and the historical city of Petra could grow to become a destination to tourists interested in history and archaeology. Wadi Rum or the Valley of the Moon can also serve as an alternative desert safari spot. The Dead Sea is already one of the world’s top health resorts.
Egyptian tourism will also have to compete with Easyjet’s other favourable destinations; Morocco, where the cities of Agadir, Casablanca, Essaouira, and Marrakech have been prominent destinations after Egypt’s Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh. Now that the airliner’s flights to Sharm El-Sheikh are on pause, demand on flights to Morocco is expected to increase.
According to the Jordan Times, Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) Abbed Al-Razzaq Arabiyat said they are contacting with Russian and British tour operators to promote tourism to the city of Aqaba. The JTB called on the Royal Wings to offer the Russian market cheaper flights to encourage Russians to visit Jordan, which was welcomed by the airline.
Russian tourism constituted 35% of the total tourism to Egypt, with the tourists reaching two million over the last nine months. The total of Russian tourism expenditure in 2014 amounted to $2.5m out of $7.3m, the total tourism expenditure.
In an attempt to support national tourism, some travel agencies launched packages to Sharm El-Sheikh at affordable prices, such as Tez Tour Egypt.
Jordan enjoys various touristic attractions that can become competition to those of Egypt, especially following the latest incident. The coastal city of Aqaba on the Red Sea has a similar climate to Sharm El-Sheikh and the historical city of Petra could grow to become a destination to tourists interested in history and archaeology. Wadi Rum or the Valley of the Moon can also serve as an alternative desert safari spot. The Dead Sea is already one of the world’s top health resorts.
Egyptian tourism will also have to compete with Easyjet’s other favourable destinations; Morocco, where the cities of Agadir, Casablanca, Essaouira, and Marrakech have been prominent destinations after Egypt’s Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh. Now that the airliner’s flights to Sharm El-Sheikh are on pause, demand on flights to Morocco is expected to increase.
Thursday, 1 October 2015
ISRAEL: Run Wild At Givot Olam in Samaria
Wild-haired shepherds, horse-riders - a sight straight out of the Hebrew Prophets. If you're visiting Samaria, don't miss this out.
Givaot Olam (Avri’s farm) agricultural farm, Itamar
“And of Joseph he said: Blessed of the Lord be his land; For the precious things of Heaven, for the dew, And for the precious things fruits of the sun, And for the precious things of the yield of the moons, And for the tops of the ancient mountains, And for the precious things of the everlasting hills, And for the precious things of the earth and the fullness thereof, And the good will of Him that dealt in the bush..." (Deuteronomy 33:13)
Imagine a farm: Straight out of the movies, with all the magic that is possible. Let your imagination lead you to infinity. Wild-haired shepherds, horse-riders galloping in the field, sheep in the pasture, free-range chickens. You have reached Givaot Olam.
In 1996 Avri Ran established his farm. Shortly thereafter his story turned into a success story. As opposed to the other outposts with a “hamlet” look (three dogs and a bachelor, broken bike, rusty wind-chimes, rocky soil, and lots of ideology) Avri’s farm is tip-top, spick and span – one can see that here there is a guiding hand.
This is “a father of this genre” site. Most people visiting the villages reach this farm, in order to see up close the hill-people in their natural habitat (by the way, it is forbidden to feed them). Avri, the founder of the place, is amongst the first of the founders of such thriving hills. If you had to choose one place to tour in Judea and Samaria, this farm has to be included in your trip.
The farm which is based and run on ecologically sound organic principles, grows eggs which are marketed by Tnuva as free-range eggs. They also have a wheatgrinding station for organic grains, and outstanding cheese products and yogurt from goats milk. The goats eat at the endless unsprayed green pastures. According to the Dairy Board these cheeses are among the finest products available in the Middle East.
Rumor has it that there is a grand piano in the goat-shed and this is played during the milking session. We checked, and the rumor is in fact true. Children can enjoy the grass and the animals and can play in the playground. Don’t miss the date yogurt!
In the farm grounds one can also see the creations of Asaf Kadron, a unique artist. He believes that the stones of the land of Israel have seen history and one can use them in order to connect us to our source. And so he creates. His amazing works combine stones, wood, water and glass and are truly inspirational. As opposed to museum art, here you can easily understand what the artist wanted to say. In fact, meaning hits you with all your senses.
East of Givaot Olam you can find “The Three Seas Lookout”. From here, you can see the Mediterranean Sea, the Dead Sea, and the Sea of Galilee. Amazing.
Givaot Olam
Where: Just outside Itamar. After driving into Itamar turn left at the roundabout in the direction of the hills, go out of the gate of the village and drive east along the valley. 5 kilometers later turn right and follow the sign on the rock to this “givat olam”.
When: 8.00 – 17.00. If you book in advance you can come later.
Why: Don't miss the piano in the Goat-Shed. This is something you have never seen before.
How much: Organic fruit yogurt 250 ml 8.50 NIS, 1 dozen eggs 23 NIS 1 kg whole-wheat flour 11 NIS
Kashrut: Badatz and under the organic supervision of Agrior
Disability access: Friendly Partially
Givaot Olam (Avri’s farm) agricultural farm, Itamar
“And of Joseph he said: Blessed of the Lord be his land; For the precious things of Heaven, for the dew, And for the precious things fruits of the sun, And for the precious things of the yield of the moons, And for the tops of the ancient mountains, And for the precious things of the everlasting hills, And for the precious things of the earth and the fullness thereof, And the good will of Him that dealt in the bush..." (Deuteronomy 33:13)
Imagine a farm: Straight out of the movies, with all the magic that is possible. Let your imagination lead you to infinity. Wild-haired shepherds, horse-riders galloping in the field, sheep in the pasture, free-range chickens. You have reached Givaot Olam.
In 1996 Avri Ran established his farm. Shortly thereafter his story turned into a success story. As opposed to the other outposts with a “hamlet” look (three dogs and a bachelor, broken bike, rusty wind-chimes, rocky soil, and lots of ideology) Avri’s farm is tip-top, spick and span – one can see that here there is a guiding hand.
This is “a father of this genre” site. Most people visiting the villages reach this farm, in order to see up close the hill-people in their natural habitat (by the way, it is forbidden to feed them). Avri, the founder of the place, is amongst the first of the founders of such thriving hills. If you had to choose one place to tour in Judea and Samaria, this farm has to be included in your trip.
The farm which is based and run on ecologically sound organic principles, grows eggs which are marketed by Tnuva as free-range eggs. They also have a wheatgrinding station for organic grains, and outstanding cheese products and yogurt from goats milk. The goats eat at the endless unsprayed green pastures. According to the Dairy Board these cheeses are among the finest products available in the Middle East.
Rumor has it that there is a grand piano in the goat-shed and this is played during the milking session. We checked, and the rumor is in fact true. Children can enjoy the grass and the animals and can play in the playground. Don’t miss the date yogurt!
In the farm grounds one can also see the creations of Asaf Kadron, a unique artist. He believes that the stones of the land of Israel have seen history and one can use them in order to connect us to our source. And so he creates. His amazing works combine stones, wood, water and glass and are truly inspirational. As opposed to museum art, here you can easily understand what the artist wanted to say. In fact, meaning hits you with all your senses.
East of Givaot Olam you can find “The Three Seas Lookout”. From here, you can see the Mediterranean Sea, the Dead Sea, and the Sea of Galilee. Amazing.
Givaot Olam
Where: Just outside Itamar. After driving into Itamar turn left at the roundabout in the direction of the hills, go out of the gate of the village and drive east along the valley. 5 kilometers later turn right and follow the sign on the rock to this “givat olam”.
When: 8.00 – 17.00. If you book in advance you can come later.
Why: Don't miss the piano in the Goat-Shed. This is something you have never seen before.
How much: Organic fruit yogurt 250 ml 8.50 NIS, 1 dozen eggs 23 NIS 1 kg whole-wheat flour 11 NIS
Kashrut: Badatz and under the organic supervision of Agrior
Disability access: Friendly Partially
Saturday, 19 September 2015
Facts About Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is one of the most fascinating water bodies on earth. It is famous for its ‘extra’ salty water, so much so that people float rather than sink due to its high density (higher than that of the human body!). Owing to its hypersalinity, the sea does not have any fish or other macroscopic water animals. It is no wonder that early visitors named this lake the ‘Sea of Death’. In addition to its ‘briny’ nature, the Dead Sea has another unique recognition – it sits 417 meters below the mean sea level! This fact makes it the lowest place on the surface of the earth (not counting the ocean surface here).
The Dead Sea is a sought-after tourist destination owing to its water’s therapeutic properties. There are numerous resorts and spas on its coast. The brine allows the adjoining countries to extract potash, a prominent agricultural fertilizer.
Interesting Facts about Dead Sea
Located in the Jordan Rift Valley in West Asia, the Dead Sea is fed by the River Jordan and other small streams. It also acts as a border between Jordan to the east and the countries of Israel and the West Bank to the west. A famous geological feature here is the Al-Lisan Peninsula, which is situated on the southern end of the lake. Lisan in Arabic means ‘tongue’! It is considered as one of the most salty parts of the Sea.
The water, though, does not leave the lake by flowing out. Due to the high temperature and dry climate, the Dead Sea experiences high levels of evaporation round the year, keeping the water level from overflowing. The high evaporation is also a reason of the heavy salinity of the lake.
Dead-Sea-Water Therapy
The 33.7% saltiness is therapeutic in many ways. It is believed taking a dip in the waters can be quite effective in soothing diseases like diabetes, rheumatism, psoriasis, etc. Moreover, the minerals found in and around the lake are considered to be present in the human body naturally, making it easy for the body to absorb its therapeutic goodness effectively. It is better not to swallow the salt water though,as it is known to cause choking due to inflation of the larynx.
How Salty is the Dead Sea?
If you have tasted the Dead Sea waters, you know – it does not taste salty at all! It in fact it tastes bitter. Scientists believe that the 340 grams of salt per liter of water can make the solution so salty that the sensation confuses the mind to think that it’s bitter.
Dead Sea is not Dead
The popular notion that there is no life growing in the Dead Sea is not completely true. Scientists have found craters at the bottom of the lake from which freshwater emerges. This makes the Dead Sea’s salinity fluctuate with time. In fact, this caused parts of the sea to turn red due to red algae growth (which are known to resist the salt-content fluctuation) in 1980 and 1992. At present, you can find clusters of bacteria, algae or fungi in some parts of the lake.
Historical Significance
When you visit the Dead Sea, know this – it has been there for almost three million years. It is believed that the lake was first spotted by Herod the Great (73 to 4 BC), the Roman King of Judea well known for his architectural achievements. Cleopatra is also believed to have promoted the goodness of the Dead Sea water. Another section of believers state Biblical references, where, although not prominently mentioned, the Dead Sea was a significant barricade for the Ammonites and Moabites’ army when they went out to fight with Jehoshaphat (873 to 849 BC), then ruler of Judah. For centuries, the Dead Sea has been mentioned in various writings, like those by Aristotle; it has also been used by the Egyptians for mummifying their pharaohsdue to its saline soil and asphalt.
Know more about the location and get travel information about the salt lake, visit Dead Sea
Saturday, 29 August 2015
JORDAN: Dead Sea Dying Slowly
The Dead Sea, occupied West Bank - On the Dead Sea's coast in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settlers, Palestinians and tourists make the downhill trek from the former waterline to its new resting place.
The Dead Sea, a unique body of water marked by mineral-rich, unusually salty water - nearly 10 times saltier than the world's oceans - is dying. Its water level is dropping by roughly one metre each year.
"We think that the current situation is an ecological disaster," said Gidon Bromberg, director of EcoPeace Middle East (EPME), an organisation that brings together Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian environmentalists to protect their shared environmental heritage.
"It's unacceptable: The unique ecosystem is in severe danger, threatening biodiversity, and you see dramatic sinkholes opening up along the shore," Bromberg said, referring to the large, unpredictable cavities that have appeared recently. Some are so cavernous that they swallow entire structures.
The two main reasons for the dropping water level are mineral extraction by Israeli and Jordanian companies in the artificially shallow southern basin, and the fact that 95 percent of the Jordan River - the Dead Sea's main source of replenishing water - is being diverted. The river used to provide 1,350 million cubic metres of water each year (mcm), but that flow has dwindled to just 20 mcm.
Israel, Jordan, and the occupied West Bank all border the Dead Sea, and have taken steps to deal with its disappearance. The first concrete plan was signed in 2005, when all three parties signed a letter to the World Bank that allowed the international financial institution to investigate the feasibility of a $10bn project to pump 850 mcm of water from Jordan's section of the Red Sea to a desalination plant at the southern end of the Dead Sea.
The 2,000 mcm of ultra-saline brine that results from the desalination process would then be pumped to the Dead Sea over the course of 40 years. Bromberg said EPME was unable to support this project, because the "environmental impact was unknowable".
A main concern for environmental groups has been the effect that introducing such high volumes of foreign brine water would have on the Dead Sea's unique ecosystem, which features unique bacterial and fungal life forms.
After years of consultations involving government officials and civil society groups, including EPME, the original project was put on hold. However, the parties continued negotiations, and in February, a final agreement emerged: a $950m "pilot programme" water-sharing arrangement, in which Jordan will construct a desalination plant near Aqaba, on the coast of the Red Sea.
The scheme will produce about 85 mcm of fresh water a year. Up to 50 mcm will be sold to the southern Israeli resort city of Eilat, leaving about 35 mcm for use in Aqaba city. As part of the agreement, Israel will sell another 50 mcm of freshwater to Amman from the Sea of Galilee.
EPME supports the new water change agreement between Israel and Jordan. Bromberg said that this much smaller project "will have manageable environmental impacts that make a lot more sense". However, EPME does not support the deal’s proposed pipeline that will pump desalinated water to the Dead Sea from Aqaba, saying the projected cost of $400m is “not realistic” and would only halt the drop in the Dead Sea's water level by about 10 percent, without addressing related environmental concerns.
Jordan, as one of the world's most water-scarce countries, stands to gain from the agreement. But the Palestinian Authority (PA), the governing body of the occupied West Bank, was left out. Israel and Jordan are approaching the new arrangement bilaterally.
The PA is awaiting negotiations with Israel on a separate agreement, in which Israel would sell another 20-30 mcm a year to the West Bank.
Clemens Messerschmid, a German hydrogeologist who has been working on water projects in the Gaza Strip and West Bank since 1997, said that these agreements were nothing more than an attempt by Israel to cement the current status quo, in which it controls water extraction from the occupied territories and the Jordan River basin then sells this water back to Palestinians.
"Palestinians, by default, are the real loser of these agreements, whether the 'pilot programmes' or the $10bn World Bank scheme," Messerschmid said.
Israel became a water-surplus country in 2013. Often, programmes encouraging conservation and recycling of waste water are cited as the reason for Israel's water surplus, but Messerschmid said the overwhelming majority of the surplus comes from the five desalination plants constructed along Israel's Mediterranean coast.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics says that roughly 100 mcm of water are extracted for use in the occupied territories from their own resources, namely aquifers in the West Bank, every year. The West Bank's yearly water need is 400-450 mcm, leaving a gap that must be filled by purchasing water from Israel.
"Under international law, Palestinians in the West Bank have the right to access the water of the Jordan River, but they haven't seen a drop since 1967," Messerschmid stated. "Furthermore, Israel doesn't allow them access to more than microscopic amounts from the local mountain aquifer sources."
The Eastern Mountain Aquifer sits almost entirely within the West Bank, and has no inflows or outflows to or from Israel. However, according to Ayman Rabi, director of the Palestinian Hydrology Group (PHG), this aquifer has been pumped nearly dry by Israeli settlers living in the West Bank, and has "no more potential" for water extraction.
"I would say that the situation in the West Bank is worse than ever before, with water access and availability at dire levels," Rabi said.
Both Rabi and Bromberg were hopeful about one aspect of the new water reality in the region: Israel's water surplus should make negotiations on Palestinian water rights easier.
"Five years ago, had you wanted to share the water more fairly, Israeli farmers would have blocked every road. With this surplus, natural water can be shared more fairly," Bromberg said.
As for the Dead Sea, Bromberg predicted that it will "never completely dry up". Surrounding springs will continue to replenish some of the water, but the current water level of 417 metres below sea level could fall to more than 700 metres below sea level in the coming years. The reduced water level could even more seriously endanger biodiversity.
Messerschmid, meanwhile, believes that the uproar over the Dead Sea's water needs pales in comparison to the water needs of the Palestinians. "These are real people, with real concerns regarding access to water; 4.6 million Palestinians have been held hostage to Israel's hydro-apartheid for half a century," he said.
"Their rights should be held above that of the bacteria at the bottom of the Dead Sea."
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