BETHLEHEM , West Bank ( CNN ) -- Hundreds of Christians packed the Church of the Nativity on Thursday for a midnight Mass in what is thought to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ . A worshipper touches a star at the point where tradition says Jesus Christ was born in the Church of Nativity . The standing-room-only service included singing and organ music . There were also large crowds outside the church , one of the most sacred places in Christianity . So many people had flocked to the area this Christmas season that there were no rooms left at the inns and hotels in Bethlehem . Some took this as a sign that tourism in Bethlehem was on the upswing . Christmas is the one time of year when the West Bank 's small , shrinking Christian communities show everyone else that they are still there . Before the midnight Mass , Palestinian scout groups representing Christians throughout the West Bank did as they always do on this day -- they marched , banging their drums loudly and , in a way , trying to make a point . Watch Bethlehem 's Christmas celebrations » . The drumbeat has been heard by more and more people , locals say , as tourism has skyrocketed this year . `` This year , tourism is much better than last year -- we reached 1,250,000 , '' said Victor Batarseh , the mayor of Bethlehem . `` All our hotels are full around Christmastime . We have 30,000 tourists coming in . '' Tourists in record numbers were on hand this year , braving an unusually cold , gray and windy day to watch the parade of drums and holiday songs . `` It 's kind of neat to see it in the Middle East , and they 're playing Christmas carols and the songs we know , '' said one American tourist . `` I 'm loving it , it 's just been an incredible atmosphere and just a wonderful learning experience , '' said another . The Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem also came to the birthplace of Jesus , as he does every Christmas Eve , allowed through normally tightly shut gates by Israeli troops . The heavy security is a testament to ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians . `` My Christmas wish is that we will have real peace , based on justice and freedom , '' said Mustafa Barghouti , a Palestinian parliament member . `` My Christmas wish is that the justice that Jesus Christ gave his life for will happen sometime in his birthplace in Palestine . '' CNN 's Ben Wedeman contributed to this report .
one of Christians pack Church of the Nativity Thursday for a midnight . The church is thought to be the birthplace of Ben Wedeman . Large crowds gathered outside the church -- Hundreds of Church of the Nativity 's most sacred places .