It seems that the international economic crisis does not affect pilgrimages to the Holy Land. In 2008, their number was growing and this trend is expected to continue in 2009 as well. "Bookings for next year are steadily increasing and demand is overtaking supply. For the moment, the deep economic and financial crisis is not triggering cancellations," the keeper of the Holy Land told the SIR. An unprecedented number of pilgrims came to the Holy Land this year and even for the winter months, in which we usually have less visitors, we have already received many bookings." "Pilgrims are crucial to the life of local Christian communities and to their economy," said Mr. Pizzaballa "but we have to find additional places to host them and their celebrations. Accordingly, we are starting extension works in our major shrines, namely Tabor, Getsemani and Nazareth. But this requires time and money." A relatively stable situation in the Palestine-Israel conflict and the efforts made to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the conflict have also contributed to increase the number of pilgrims. "The fact that Tzipi Livni won Kadima leadership is also in line with what has been made so far to improve dialogue with the Palestinian people." ” “
