Ben Preiss — December 26, 2007 — World
Thousands of Christian pilgrims from the world over converged on Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, to celebrate Christmas. Not since the Millennium celebrations have there been as many tourists in Bethlehem after which the second Palestinian intifada began. This brings some measure of hope in a region sorely in need of it.
"Hundreds of people from all over the world crowded the church's dark interior. According to Israeli border police, who monitored the entry of visitors into Bethlehem, 22,000 tourists had crossed over by midday, including about 7,000 Israeli Arabs."
Implications - Many curious consumers have used the availability of information on the Internet as a means of researching and disassembling religious beliefs, resulting in a generation of atheists. Regardless, religion persists as a large part of how society functions as a whole.
"Hundreds of people from all over the world crowded the church's dark interior. According to Israeli border police, who monitored the entry of visitors into Bethlehem, 22,000 tourists had crossed over by midday, including about 7,000 Israeli Arabs."
Implications - Many curious consumers have used the availability of information on the Internet as a means of researching and disassembling religious beliefs, resulting in a generation of atheists. Regardless, religion persists as a large part of how society functions as a whole.
Trend Themes
1. Religious Tourism - The increase in Christian pilgrims to Bethlehem highlights the growth of religious tourism globally.
2. Hopeful Tourism - The surge of tourists to Bethlehem offers an opportunity for other regions in conflict to develop local economies through tourism.
3. Virtual Pilgrimages - The rise of atheism and digital technology has led to virtual pilgrimages as an emerging trend in religious tourism.
Industry Implications
1. Tourism - The surge of tourists to Bethlehem highlights the potential for growth in the global tourism industry.
2. Hospitality - The return of pilgrims to Bethlehem presents opportunities for local hospitality businesses in need of recovery.
3. Technology - The trend towards virtual pilgrimages suggests opportunities for technology companies to develop and market new platforms for religious tourism.
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