Israel - Zero tourism. Jerusalem hotels grateful to Palestinian laborers

For months, 17,000 hotel rooms have been waiting for foreigners and pilgrims to return to Jerusalem. To help the branch, the government tries to stimulate local tourism. Meanwhile, an unexplored trend has been identified in East Jerusalem: that of the Palestinian laborers.
    With the closure of the West Bank for coronavirus, those of them working in the industrial areas of Jerusalem cannot return home, for days or even weeks. Now in the Old Town hostels and hotels offer them rooms at bargain prices. It takes 60 shekels (15 euros) to spend the night in a comfortable room, shared with other guests.
    "Better than staying overnight at the construction site," some of them said on the Zman Israel website. A single $ 100 is offered at 100 shekels (25 euros). For managers it is preferable to view deserted rooms. Palestinian laborers are now also welcome in hotels on the Jewish side of the city, where they represent an unprecedented reality.
    The collapse of foreign tourism has also affected Eilat (Red Sea). According to Mayor Meir Yitzhak ha-Levy "another closure would be deadly for us". But Eilat does not give up.
    "We want the government to turn us into a laboratory in the fight against coronavirus," said the mayor. He therefore asked to be the first to test developing technologies in Israel with the aim of delivering the results of coronavirus tests "in 45 minutes". Eilat also wants to specialize in epidemiological investigations and develop an app that helps avoid crowded places.
    Nazareth (Galilee) is also among the excellent victims of the collapse of foreign tourism. With the closure of hotels, restaurants and part of the trade, Mayor Ali Salam said in parliament, unemployment has gone from 3 to 44 percent. As a breath of fresh air he would like to take advantage of local tourism. But in Nazareth, Israelis spend a few hours and only rarely stay overnight.