Israel tourism crisis: war has more devastating impact than pandemic

15-04-24

Israel is facing a severe tourism crisis despite the resumption of international flights, with figures reflecting a grim outlook for the sector. In February of this year, the country received just 68,100 tourists, a negligible figure compared to the 319,100 visitors it recorded in the same month last year. This drastic reduction occurs despite the recovery of air traffic and suggests that the effects of the current war have eclipsed the consequences of the pandemic on the tourism sector.

In March, the situation showed no signs of improvement, with fewer than 80,000 visitors entering the country, representing a drop of close to eighty percent compared to previous figures. This decline has devastating consequences for the many businesses that depend on the flow of tourists, from hotels and restaurants to souvenir stores and local transportation services.