Increasing numbers of backpackers are choosing a destination that is well off the beaten track and that until recently was considered unconventional to say the least.
But in Ramallah tourists can now experience Palestinian culture and also learn about its political reality.
“Welcome to Palestine!” echoes through the streets as the “ajnabi”, Arabic for foreigner, take in the life of the city full of traffic, shouting street vendors and the strong aroma of coffee.
Despite security warnings, it is common that after spending a few days in Israel, tourists visit the West Bank and see the reality of the place with their own eyes.
Over the past few years, two modern hostels in Ramallah have attracted tourists to the city with accommodation for those who cannot afford to stay in a luxury hotel.
“Every day, new guests are pleasantly surprised by the reality of the West Bank and how different it is from their expectations,” Mike, the European co-owner of the hostel Area D, explains.
“They expect to see cities filled with rubble and heavily armed militia everywhere.”
Chris Alami, Mike’s Palestinian business partner, says most tourists who arrive in the West Bank are young adults with a strong interest in culture, language and politics.
“From the traveller’s point of view, Ramallah has a lot of potential,” Alami says.
“It’s fun, cheap and safe. We provide a great variety of cultural and political tours, almost all of them for free.”
Some Ramallah citizens are reticent about tourists, but in general visitors are welcomed as “they spend money and experience Palestine firsthand”, Alami says.
Image: Don’t Stop Living
