BETHLEHEM, West Bank — “The city would have been crowded with tourists this time of year,” said Elias al-Arja, president of the Palestinian Hotel Association. “Streets, shops, hotels, restaurants would all be packed with tourists, but this year, there is no one. It is a catastrophe.”

Every March and April, Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, comes to life as Christians from around the world flock there for anticipation of Easter. This year will be different for the historic West Bank city, which has been under lockdown since March 6, after the first cases of COVID-19 emerged in Palestine.

“There is no holiday to be celebrated amid these conditions,” Arja said, noting that the current situation will not only affect the city financially, but will also deprive local residents of the usual joy surrounding Easter, one of the most festive occasions in the city.

For Christians, Bethlehem is second only to Jerusalem in importance, while it is the most important on the international tourism map. Both Palestinian and Israeli tour operators offer itineraries for the city, which depends heavily on tourism revenue.