During the Christmas season, Israel is expecting around 165,000 Christians to visit and celebrate the birth of Christ.

Thousands of Christians are expected to make a pilgrimage to Israel to celebrate Christmas.

The Tourism Ministry is preparing for the celebrations by hosting its annual pre-Christmas reception. Everyone is welcome from Dignitaries, and church leaders to ambassadors, and Israeli Christians. 

Celebrations are already underway. At the Church of Nativity, in Bethlehem, the suspected birthplace of Jesus, the annual Christmas tree lighting filled the city with hundreds of tourists and visitors.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day the Ministry is also providing a free shuttle from Jerusalem to Bethlehem as part of the many events. 

The Ministry states that 55 per cent of its visitors in 2019 have been Christian and during December 2019 and January 2020 they expect their largest influx of Christian visitors. 

According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, 2019 is breaking tourism records for Israel as they anticipate reaching 4.7 million visitors in total for the year.