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Crowds descended on the Palestine booth at the World Travel Market today after the artist Banksy set up a stall and exhibited a new piece of art.
The artist painted a replica of a separation barrier, the 400-mile wall built by Israel along the West Bank, and urged his fans to 'pretend to be a travel agent' and wait for the event at London's Excel Center.
The Palestine booth, which is one of the smallest at the event, was the place to be this morning as many people as the 'Banksy' which featured two angels – one signifying Israel, the other Palestine.
The Bristol-based artist posted on Instagram: 'Opening my first ever stall at a trade fair next week. The walled off hotel, the neighbors have complained it's too tall.
'We'll be at the Palestine booth giving away free stuff, World Travel Fair, London Excel Center 6th and 7th November. Free to get in if you register online today and pretend to be a travel agent.
Several people claimed on social media to have been 'escorted out' of the event World Travel Market's social media accounts were proudly boasting the event had its own 'Banksy'.
The artist has links to The Walled Off Hotel, which opened in Bethlehem in March 2017 and has succeeded in attracting tourists to Palestine.
Owner Wisam Salsaa said: 'We're going to be part of the show, we're going to get a piece of Banksy art with us.
'We travel to the business and thought this was a good opportunity for us to raise awareness about our hotel.'
'The Walled Off Hotel is not just a hotel. We have a museum, the largest gallery in Palestine and a graffiti shop, we are giving tourists a new opportunity to come to Palestine to do something different.
'They can swim in the Dead Sea, go to Tel Aviv, visit Jerusalem, pray at the Church of Nativity … and then spray graffiti on the separation wall.'
He added: 'There are now Bethlehem now. Over the last three months we have had 100 percent occupancy in the city. Once again there is no room at the inn.
'This was one of Banksy's motivations to help open the hotel. He wanted to help open up tourism. '
Rooms at the nine-room $ 200 for double rooms and $ 450 for the Presidential Suite.
More than 50,000 travel executives and employees Visit World Travel Market every year.
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