An international Palestinian agreement to protect the tourism sector and support its workers in Bethlehem

Bethlehem - Ofoq News - The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Municipality of Bethlehem, the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions, and the International Trade Union Confederation signed, today, Monday, an agreement of principles and solidarity to protect the tourism sector in Palestine and support its workers, as part of an international union movement to protect the rights of Palestinian workers and strengthen their steadfastness in the face of the repercussions of the occupation and the economic crisis.

The signing of the agreement came during the visit of the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Trade Unions, Luke Triangle, to Bethlehem, where he was received by the Secretary-General of the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions, Shaher Saad, and he led a union delegation in a series of meetings and visits aimed at examining the conditions of Palestinian workers, and the damage to the economic sectors, especially tourism, as a result of the war and the restrictions imposed on movement and movement.

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Hani Al-Hayek, the Mayor of Bethlehem, Hanna Hanania, Shaher Saad, and Luke Triangle, and stipulates strengthening the rights of workers in the tourism sector, including decent work, fair wages, social protection, occupational safety and health, and preserving the freedom of union organization and collective representation, in addition to protecting religious, cultural and historical sites and ensuring safe access to them.

The agreement stressed the importance of strengthening international union solidarity with Palestinian tourism workers, highlighting their suffering in international forums, and encouraging union delegations to visit Palestine and see on the ground the conditions of workers, establishments and affected local communities, as well as supporting training, rehabilitation and recovery programs and exchanging experiences.

During the delegation’s meeting with the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Hani Al-Hayek, the damage to the tourism sector since the outbreak of war was discussed, in light of the sharp decline in the numbers of tourists, pilgrims, and visitors, and the resulting closure of tourist facilities, loss of job opportunities, and decline in the incomes of thousands of families who depend on this sector.

Al-Hayek stressed that Palestinian tourism is not just an economic activity, but rather represents an integral part of the national, historical, cultural and religious identity, and a bridge of communication between peoples and the introduction of Palestinian civilization and heritage. He stressed the need to intensify efforts to protect workers in the sector, support their resilience, preserve job opportunities, and sustain tourism activity.

The delegation also discussed with the Mayor of Bethlehem, Hanna Hanania, the repercussions of the decline in tourism on commercial establishments, hotels, restaurants, the transportation sector, tourist guidance, and traditional crafts, as well as its impact on the municipality’s revenues and its ability to continue providing services to citizens.

The visit included a meeting with Bishop Venedictos, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Agent in Bethlehem, where the religious and historical status of the city was emphasized, and the importance of protecting the holy places and ensuring access to them, in light of the sharp decline in religious tourism and its repercussions on workers and local communities.

The delegation also visited the Museum of the Novel, and learned about its role in preserving the Palestinian national memory and introducing the history, heritage and identity of Palestine, and the importance of supporting cultural and tourism institutions and those working in them.

For his part, Saad stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation and coordination between Palestinian institutions and the International Trade Union Confederation to protect the rights of Palestinian workers and preserve their job opportunities and sources of livelihood, stressing the need to intensify international and union efforts to support their steadfastness, especially workers in the tourism sector who have been severely affected by the decline in tourism activity and the restrictions imposed on movement and mobility.

The visit stressed the importance of transforming international union solidarity into practical steps that contribute to protecting workers’ rights and dignity, supporting tourist facilities and affected communities, and preserving the Palestinian national and religious heritage.