After many months of a sharp decline in arrivals, Israel’s inbound tourism industry says a new opportunity may now be opening. Sector officials believe the next few days could be decisive for whether the country can capitalize on easing travel warnings and revive foreign tourism this summer.
According to the Incoming Tour Operators Association, Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand have recently softened their travel advisories for Israel. In the industry’s view, this is an important first sign that international perceptions of risk may be shifting. But they warn that advisory changes alone will not restore visitor numbers while many airlines still do not operate regular service to Israel and air connectivity remains limited.
Association chief executive Yossi Fattal said the government should increase activity now, rather than wait for the crisis to fully end. He argued that in tourism, countries that act only after conditions fully stabilize fall behind others that are already attracting demand.
The association is urging the government to adopt a focused national plan to bring tourism back. It wants the Foreign Ministry to work with foreign governments, regulators and insurance companies to secure further changes in travel warnings, and the Transportation Ministry to speed the return of foreign airlines through incentives and regulatory tools. Since the start of the crisis, inbound tourism has been badly hit, with foreign visitor numbers dropping and income losses spreading across hotels, restaurants, tour guides and transport firms. The group also proposes creating a dedicated body, described as a “recovery authority for tourism,” to coordinate the Tourism, Transportation and Foreign Ministries under clear targets and deadlines. Officials say the issue is not only economic, because foreign visitors can also become important informal ambassadors for Israel abroad.
