The role of tourism in Jerusalem’s future

A strategic urban division, the 'Jerusalem Envelope,' has been identified as a key factor shaping Jerusalem's future, particularly concerning tourism and demographic dynamics. This study reveals that the planned infrastructure, including command posts like Metzudat Adumim, aims to disrupt potential Palestinian urban contiguity between Ramallah and Bethlehem, while also influencing tourism patterns along tectonic fault lines between East and West Jerusalem. The research highlights that Jerusalem's tourism, with over two million foreign visitors annually, has led to significant congestion in the Holy Basin, necessitating innovative urban planning solutions. A proposed two-municipality model is suggested as a logical framework for future management, benefiting both Israel and Palestinian interests by mitigating potential demographic shifts.

(Ed.). (2014). The role of tourism in Jerusalem’s future. Tourism, Religion, and Pilgrimage in Jerusalem, 170–192. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315770345-6