No one denies that the occupation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war have delivered severe blows to tourism in Bethlehem. However, reducing the crisis to these factors alone means avoiding part of the truth that we must confront.

Tourism is not only about foreign pilgrims. There is also domestic tourism, tourism from the West Bank, tourism from Palestinian communities inside Israel, as well as cultural and community-based tourism. All of these could have helped reduce some of the losses. But what have we actually done to develop them?

Unfortunately, many of the bodies responsible for tourism — including the Ministry of Tourism, municipalities, tourism development councils, unions, and local institutions — still operate with a closed-circle mentality. Any idea or initiative that comes from outside these circles is often rejected or ignored, not because it lacks value, but because it did not come from within the institution itself. It is as if a proposal is seen as a challenge to the decision-maker rather than an opportunity to save the city.

The problem is not a lack of people; it is the way people are chosen. We keep seeing the same faces, the same names, and the same circles receiving positions, then we wonder why the results do not change. Working in the tourism sector or teaching tourism does not necessarily mean having the vision, leadership, or ability to manage crises and create solutions.

People have the right to ask: What has the Tourism Development Council achieved since 2017? And does the level of achievement match the scale of the crisis that Bethlehem has reached?

The most concerning issue is that one person is often given multiple positions, memberships, and responsibilities, and then we expect innovation and creativity from them in every area. This is not realistic. Bethlehem is full of capable people who have never been given an opportunity because, in many cases, the criteria for selection are based on closeness to certain circles rather than the ability to achieve results.

If we truly want to save Bethlehem, we must change the way we think before changing the people. We need real advisory councils that include individuals with experience, vision, and new ideas — even if they are outside institutions and official positions.

The city is not looking for names; it is looking for results.

Are we searching for those who simply occupy the chair, or for those who have the ability to lift the chair — and the entire city — forward?