Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

Tourism in 'Israel' collapsing amid ongoing wars

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 26 Nov 2024 00:16
4 Min Read

The Israeli occupation's tourism sector has taken a severe hit amid the ongoing wars on Gaza and Lebanon, jeopardizing a vital economic inlet for the occupation.

Listen
  • x
  • Travelers line up for check at Fly Dubai airline counter at Ben Gurion International Airport in al-Lydd, occupied Palestine, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP)
    Travelers line up for check at the Fly Dubai airline counter at Ben Gurion International Airport in al-Lydd, occupied Palestine, Sunday, November 10, 2024. (AP)

The Israeli occupation's tourism industry is facing a sharp decline amid the ongoing war on Gaza, with hotel stays plummeting and many establishments shutting down.

According to a report released by the Israeli Hotel Association on Sunday, hotel bookings fell by 29% in October compared to the same month last year, marking a significant blow to the sector.

Tourism activity in "Israel" has dropped by 20%, with international tourist stays nearly vanishing. Only 120,000 overnight stays by international visitors were recorded in October, representing a 63% decrease from October 2023 and a staggering 86% drop compared to October 2022.

The overall impact in 2024 has been severe, with only 1.6 million tourist stays recorded so far, a steep decline from the 7.5 million stays in 2023. Total hotel stays in October reached 1.58 million, down 29% from the previous year, despite coinciding with Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot, which typically boost travel.

Sivan Detooker, director-general of the Israeli Hotel Association, stated, "Since the beginning of the war, around 90 hotels have closed, nearly 20% of all hotel services, and the situation continues to deteriorate."

Even with major Jewish holidays in October, traditionally a peak period for tourism, the sector generated only 1.58 million shekels (approximately $0.4 million), far below expectations. Demand among settlers for hotels also fell by 29% compared to October 2023.

Devastating effects of war

The war's effects have been particularly acute in northern occupied Palestine, where the war has drastically reduced local travel. Cities like Haifa, Tabarayya, and al-Nasirah reported occupancy declines of 51%, 45%, and 80%, respectively.

Related News

Norway wealth fund drops Caterpillar and five Israeli banks

West Bank sees escalating attacks by IOF, settlers

The average hotel occupancy rate in October was 51%, a 63% decrease from last year and the lowest monthly rate recorded in 2024.

As the war rages on, "Israel's" economy is sinking. Earlier last month, passenger traffic at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport dropped by 43% during the first nine months of 2024 due to the escalations and war on Gaza and the northern front after October 7, which led many airlines to scale back or withdraw flights.

According to the airport authority, the airport served 10.85 million international passengers from January to September, a decrease from 19.01 million in 2023.

Deteriorating economy 

S&P's newest assessment on "Israel", issued earlier in November, states that the war on Gaza and Lebanon is anticipated to continue into 2025, delaying the occupation's economic recovery until 2026, Globes reported.

The international ratings agency lowered "Israel's" rating to A- last month with a negative outlook and predicts the occupation will have 0% growth in 2024, resulting in a GDP per capita decrease. 

Only in 2025 will the Israeli economy begin to recover, with a moderate 2.2% increase.

According to S&P, the budget deficit would reach 9% of GDP by the end of 2024 and stay high at 5%-6% of GDP until 2027. These values are significantly higher than those expected by the Ministry of Finance, which might be attributed to differences in computation methodologies. Net government debt is predicted to reach 70% of GDP by 2027, an increase of 12% from 2023.

The agency predicts that the current account surplus will average 3.3% of GDP between 2024 and 2027.

The primary risk identified by S&P is a potential additional escalation in the north between the occupation forces and the Lebanese Resistance - Hezbollah, as well as a possible direct war with Iran.

Along with defense issues, the industry reports worsening relations with major partners. "The grave humanitarian situation and the increase in the number of civilians being hurt in Gaza, and increasingly also in Lebanon, have led to a number of public disputes between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and main allies including the US and UK."

 
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Gaza
  • Lebanon
  • Hezbollah
  • Islamic resistance in Lebanon

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS