Bethlehem hoping for tourist boost over Christmas<br /><br />Shopkeepers in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ, are hoping for a surge in visitors during Christmas week after a prolonged slump caused by the war in Gaza. The conflict has taken a heavy toll on the occupied West Bank city which relies almost entirely on tourism. On Saturday, signs of festive life returned as Bethlehem lit its Christmas tree for the first time since the war began more than two years ago.<br /><br />AFP VIDEO<br /><br />Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe<br />Visit our website at [https://www.manilatimes.net](https://www.manilatimes.net/)<br /><br />Follow us:<br />Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook<br />Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram<br />Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter<br />DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion<br /><br />Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital<br /><br />Check out our Podcasts:<br />Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify<br />Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts<br />Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic<br />Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer<br />Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher<br />Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein<br /><br />#TheManilaTimes<br />#WorldNews
