Northern tourism fears it is already too late to recover after the war

Tourism and hospitality businesses in Israel’s northern border region say the real battle for survival has only begun, even as cautious talk grows about a possible end to the war. Communities from Upper Galilee, the Golan Heights and the Western Galilee have suffered severe damage over the past three years, long evacuations and an unprecedented break in normal life. Despite a lull in some areas, the local economy remains frozen, and business owners fear that by the time the fighting is officially over, there may be no guesthouses, boutique hotels or cafes left to reopen.

Metula local council head David Azulai said most businesses in the village depend entirely on tourism and have effectively been erased after nearly three years without visitors. He accused the government of trying to save money instead of saving residents, and said there is no logic in demanding business property tax from closed hotels and restaurants. In his view, state aid and benefits are not charity but a basic obligation toward people who have held the frontier.

The sense of shattered hope is echoed by local operators. Miri Manasseh, owner of Cafe Bella in Metula, said she and her husband have been on active reserve duty since the war began, while the hospitality sector faces total uncertainty and no horizon. She said businesses need breathing room, but instead the government is advancing laws that help no one, causing complete loss of trust in the leadership, even though she still believes in the country and its people.

Eitan Gabai, who owns a guesthouse complex, said he had closed when the fighting started, then reopened in March 2025 during the ceasefire period, when demand returned strongly and the business showed real potential. With the renewed heavy fighting, everything stopped again. He is now demanding full enforcement of the property tax law and automatic inclusion in the “red route,” arguing that interceptions overhead and the inability to host guests leave no room for argument or bureaucratic delay. Miriam Hod, owner of the boutique hotel Beit Shalom, which also includes a restaurant and gallery, said she was evacuated for 18 months and then spent another full year rebuilding after the hotel was badly damaged by fire.