Poland in Palestine

The meeting took place on Saturday, 3 January, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Bethlehem, in the presence of the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Bethlehem, Salah Atallah. The Representative of the Republic of Poland, Wiesław Kuceł, expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Palestinian government and the Municipality of the City of Bethlehem to ensure the successful and festive organization of the Christmas celebrations, which were resumed after a two-year break. From Bethlehem, a clear message was sent to the world that the city is safe and ready to welcome tourists and pilgrims.

Minister Al Hayek emphasized the importance of direct cooperation between the Polish and Palestinian tourism sectors, which contributes to an increase in the number of Polish tourists visiting Palestine. The use of Palestinian tourism infrastructure supports the development of the Palestinian national economy, which is largely dependent on the arrival of pilgrims. Religious tourism is of particular importance for Bethlehem, where it constitutes the primary source of livelihood for more than half of the population.

The good state of Palestinian-Polish relations was underlined, and hope was expressed for continued and intensified cooperation between the two sides, particularly in the field of tourism. Attention was also drawn to the benefits arising from the coordination of tourist traffic between Palestinian and Israeli partners.