War dashes hopes of Israel tourism boom

Israel had hoped for a tourism boom in 2023 and had planned to attract Asian visitors, but everything fell apart after the Hamas attack on October 7.

Israel has high hopes for tourism this year, not only to restore the economy after the pandemic but also to show goodwill to reconcile with the rest of the world, especially the Middle East.

The country's tourism minister set a target of 7 million visitors by 2030 earlier this year. Israel is also looking to focus on attracting the Asian market to increase tourist numbers, especially Chinese tourists, after recognizing the importance of this market. The tourism ministry has taken proactive steps such as establishing a partnership with Weibo, a social network known as "China's Facebook", and launching a campaign to attract visitors on this platform.

Israeli security forces inspect damage after a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Har Adar, a well-off residential area in northwest Jerusalem. Photo: AFP — Israeli security forces inspect damage after a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Har Adar, a well-off residential area in northwest Jerusalem. Photo: *AFP*

But that hope collapsed after the Hamas attack on the morning of October 7. As of October 11, more than 3,000 people had died in the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

Israel's tourism industry has come to a complete standstill. Countries have suspended all tours and advised their citizens to stay away from the area. Some countries, such as the US, have issued "do not travel to Gaza" and "exercise caution when traveling to Israel or the West Bank" warnings.

Major airlines around the world such as American Airlines, Delta, Air Canada, Lufthansa, and British Airways have simultaneously suspended all operations to and from the capital Tel Aviv or announced "resuming operations when the situation stabilizes".

Europe and the US are Israel’s largest markets in 2023 and before the pandemic, so the suspension of flights to the region will have a major impact, reducing the number of tourists coming to visit in the fall and winter.

Despite the fighting, the country's largest and busiest international airport, Ben Gurion, has announced it is open and operating. The second largest airport, Ilan & Asaf Ramon International Airport, located in the southern Red Sea city of Eilat, has also said it will continue to operate.

On the airline side, the national airline El Al announced on October 8 that it "continues to operate as normal" but under the guidance of security forces. The airline also offers many options for customers who have purchased tickets, such as free changes to destinations or flight dates. An emergency hotline for customers affected by the war has also been set up.

On October 9, a number of flights still landed at Ben Gurion, most of them operated by Israeli airlines including El Al flights from Rome, Milan and Athens.

The country's two smaller airlines, Israir and Arkia Airlines, will operate flights to help Israelis abroad return home.

Several major cruise lines have made last-minute adjustments to planned stops in Israel. The Norwegian Jade canceled stops in Ashdod and Haifa on October 11 and 12, instead going to Türkiye before ending in Athens, Greece. Royal Caribbean announced the cancellation of two sailings set to depart from Haifa on the Rhapsody of the Seas. Passengers who purchased those tours will receive refunds. Celestyal Cruises has suspended all port operations in Israel until the end of November.

In 2019, Israel welcomed a record 4.7 million international visitors. In 2022, the country welcomed nearly 2.7 million tourists after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. These visitors brought $4 billion to the country's economy.

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