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Gaza war interrupts tourism recovery for Israel and neighbors

A photo taken on October 11, 2023 shows the empty Mount of Olives touristic site overlooking Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock (background), as the ferocious war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement further south enters its fifth day. Hamas has branded its coordinated land, air and sea offensive against Israel that began on October 7 "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood". (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)
To:

Al-Monitor Readers

From:

David Rosenberg

Israeli reporter specializing in business, economics and politics

Date:

Jan. 17, 2024

Bottom Line:

The Israel-Hamas war has taken a toll on the Middle East and North African tourism industry in concentric circles centered on the Gaza war zone. Israel and the Palestinian areas have been the most severely affected, followed by Lebanon, Egypt’s Sinai resorts and Jordan. Elsewhere in the region, there has been no impact. While the intensity of fighting in Gaza is expected to decline over January, the downturn in international tourism to Israel and its immediate neighbors is likely to continue into the first half of the year. The risk of the conflict spreading remains relatively low despite growing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Although fighting on the Israel-Lebanon border will probably continue into 2024, it should reach a low enough intensity not to deter tourists from returning by the summer season.