RAMALLAH, May 2, 2011 (WAFA) – Hotel rooms occupancy in the Palestinian Territory reached 35% in 2010, an increase by 9% compared with 2009, said the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS).

The number of guests had increased by 28% compared with 2009, while the number of guest nights reflects an increase by 23% during 2010 compared with 2009, and 44% compared with 1999.

The total number of guests in the Palestinian hotels was 577,000 persons, who in total spent 1.25 million nights during 2010. Of total visitors, 37% were from European Union countries, 16% were from European countries outside the EU and while 13% of the guests were from the United States and Canada.

According to the PCBS, there are 29 hotels in Jerusalem, including 1,467 rooms with 3,263 beds, 26 hotels including 1,060 rooms with 2,343 beds in the center of the West Bank, 25 hotels including 1,868 rooms with 4,001 beds in the south of the West Bank, 7 hotels including 164 rooms with 361 beds in the north of the West Bank, and 8 hotels including 340 rooms with 575 beds in the Gaza Strip.

M.A.