RAMALLAH, September 29, 2007 (WAFA)-The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said Saturday that there is a decline in the tourism indicators in the Palestinian Territory due to the Israeli measures since Al-Aqsa Intifada outbreak in September 2000 compared with the year 1999.

In a press release, PCBS said that the number of operating hotels in the Palestinian Territory at the end of 2006 was 79 hotels, comprising a total of 3,879 rooms with a total of 8,429 available beds. Data indicated that the number of operating hotels was decreased by 13.2% compared with 1999, the maximum decrease was during 2002 (20.9%), but during the last four years this indicator showed little increase. During 2006, the indicator increased by 10.0% compared with 2002.

It revealed that the occupancy rate of rooms in the Palestinian Territory at the end of 2006 was 15.8%. Data showed that the occupancy rate of rooms was decreased by 55.5% compared 1999. The maximum decrease was 77.3% during 2001 and 2002, but during the last four years this indicator showed little increase. During 2006, the indicator increased by 19.6% compared with 2001 and 2002.

The occupancy rate of beds in the Palestinian Territory at the end of 2006 was 12.5%. Data showed that the occupancy rate of beds was decreased by 58.7% compared with 1999, the maximum decrease was during 2001 and 2002, but during 2006 this indicator showed little increase compared with the last four years (2001 - 2004).

PCBS mentioned that during the year 2006, the total number of guests in the Palestinian Territory reached 151,801 persons with a decrease by 52.1% compared with 1999, and the total number of guest nights was 383,603 with a decrease by 57.2% compared with 1999.

It added that data of 2006 showed that 42.7% of the Palestinian households or one of its members conducted domestic trips during the year 2006, with 35.5% in the West Bank, and 57.6% in Gaza Strip, and the average expenditure during the domestic tourism trip by the Palestinian household is estimated by 27.7 US $.

PCBS concluded that data indicated that 54.2% of the Palestinian households didn’t conduct domestic trips during the year 2006 due to difficult economical situations of them.