Tourism to Israel takes a hit
As
the Federal Aviation Administration extended its ban on U.S. flights to
Tel Aviv for a second day Wednesday, Israel's tourism ministry sought
to quell concerns among would-be U.S. visitors, noting that 75,000
foreign tourists are presently in the country and "their travel
arrangements are proceeding as planned."
Among those visitors is
former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, who arrived Wednesday in Tel
Aviv via Israeli airline El Al, "to show support for Israel's right to
defend itself," he wrote on Twitter.
El Al has added additional
flights to accommodate passengers waylaid by canceled flights on Delta,
United, US Airways and a number of European carriers. The flight
stoppage was initiated Tuesday after a rocket landed near Tel Aviv's
airport.
Bloomberg expressed confidence in Israeli security and the safety of El Al, in particular.
"I
think compared to the security at American airports, security at Ben
Gurion airport is infinitely better ..." he told Fox News. "You've got
to remember that Israel has been under threat since 1948 when it was
founded so ,,, they take security much more seriously here and on El Al
... than we do in America."
Meanwhile, a U.S.-based Israeli tourism official issued a statement meant to reassure potential visitors.
"Please
know that tourism is continuing, and hotels, restaurants, tourist sites
and holy places are open as usual," Haim Gutin, Israel tourism
commissioner for North and South America said in a statement Wednesday.
It's
too soon to determine the economic fallout caused by the interruption
to air travel to and from the country. But escalating
Israeli-Palestinian violence that began early in July prompted the
Israel Hotel Association to estimate $125 million in lost revenue,
mostly due to cancellations by Israelis who were opting to stay home.
Israel's
Incoming Tour Operators Association blamed the security situation for a
20% drop in revenue for bookings between July and December, according
to the Israeli business publication Calcalist.
U.S.
visitors make up 20% of the 3.5 million foreign travelers to Israel, but
summer is not prime season for so-called "Christian travel."
"The
majority of people who go from America to Israel (in summer) are world
travelers who are going because it's on their bucket list, or they're
Jewish-Americans," said tourism spokesman Geoffrey Weill. "Over the last
few weeks, numbers have dropped, but they haven't been dropping
through the floor by any means. The flights have been coming in full."
STORY: Rockets or not, Birthright still going to Israel
A
number of entertainers have canceled their performances in Israel,
including the Backstreet Boys, Paul Anka, Neil Young, and America.
The
Backstreet Boys pulled out of shows scheduled for July 29, 30, and 31
at Raanana Amphitheater "due to the security situation," the band said
on its website.
Paul Anka was scheduled to perform this week in Tel Aviv but has postponed due to the hostilities.
Last
week, Delta reported 500 or so cancellations on its U.S.-Tel Aviv
flights in July, and a fewer number in August. Cancellations for
September were "negligible."
But that was before the FAA's flight
ban and the State Department's revamped travel advisory recommending
that travelers postpone nonessential travel to Israel, the West Band and
Gaza. .
"Are people walking into travel agencies and booking trips to Israel? No," Weill said. "It's a wait-and-see situation."
end quote from:
Tourism to Israel takes a hit
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