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
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Israeli tourism industry dealt a mighty blow by aggression on Gaza

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 24 Feb 2024 17:49
  • 4 Shares
4 Min Read

The director general of the Chamber of Inbound Tourism Organizers described "Israel" as being completely isolated from the world regarding aviation.

  • x
  • Gaza onslaught takes heavy toll on Israeli 'tourism' industry
    Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza, on February 9. (AP)

According to a trade group representing major receptive tour operator businesses and suppliers, "Israel's" tourist sector is in critical trouble as a result of the ongoing war on Gaza, and many airlines are hesitant to travel to the occupied territories.

“Before the crisis, there were 250 airline companies operating in Israel, and now only 45 companies are operating,” said the director general of the Chamber of Inbound Tourism Organizers, Yossi Fattal.

Fattal told the Israeli newspaper Maariv that "Israel" was completely being isolated from the world in regards to aviation, reporting that 80% of flights are being operated by the Israeli El Al. 

He noted that the war on Gaza was harming "Israel's strategic image," detailing that the government should have found a way to bring tourists to "Israel" despite the ongoing war.

“Jordan and Egypt, which are also affected, finance the airlines that bring tourists to them. Today, Israel does not fund insurance for foreign airlines, only Israeli ones," detailing that premiums to travel to the occupation are "enormous."

Fattal also stated that it will take "two or three years" to rebuild "Israel's" reputation and allow airlines to resume operations when the war ends. 

Tourism provides for over 3% of the occupation's GDP and directly employs approximately 200,000 people, according to the tourism ministry.

Last month, the Israeli Phoenix Gamma index showed that the Israeli tourism sector has suffered greatly following the Palestinian Resistance Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7. 

Related News

Gaza war 'could have ended long ago', ex-IOF admit, urging ceasefire

Zamir demands Gaza war strategy as rift with Israeli cabinet grows

Analyzing the shopping cycle, transaction numbers, and weekly average purchase amounts, the latest figures for the last quarter of 2023 paint a grim picture for one of the Israeli occupation's vital sectors.

The tourism sector witnessed a staggering 73% decrease in turnover compared to the end of 2022. Transactions plummeted by 64%, accompanied by a 26% drop in the average transaction amount.

Restaurants, cafes, and fast-food establishments faced a 16% dip in turnover, with transactions dropping by 1.5% year-on-year. The initial two weeks of the war on Gaza saw near-zero activity, which may be linked to large barrages of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip toward occupation cities on a daily basis. Due to such circumstances, Israeli settlers opted to remain indoors resulting in a nearly 40% decrease in turnovers and transactions for restaurants.

How war on Gaza dealt ‘Israel’ mighty economic blow: Axios

"Israel's" funding of the war on Gaza has resulted in its first-ever credit downgrade. 

Given the expense of the war, "Israel" will need to borrow almost $58 billion this year, according to Bloomberg, which equates to nearly $23,000 per household, and 3 times the amount of the fiscal deficit in 2022. 

Moody's cut "Israel's" credit rating one notch, from A1 to A2, and noted the entity's poor finances, as well as the ongoing war on Gaza's potential to "weaken its executive and legislative institutions."

In mid-February Moody's took further action and downgraded the deposit ratings of five Israeli banks, from A2 to A3, designating the outlook on long-term deposit ratings as negative.

The US credit ratings agency lowered the long- and short-term deposit ratings of "Bank Leumi Le-Israel, Bank Hapoalim, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd., Israel Discount Bank Ltd., and First International Bank of Israel Ltd. (FIBI)," by one notch to A3 from A2.

Moody’s said the downgrade is “driven by a lower government support uplift incorporated in those ratings because of the downgrade of Israel’s sovereign ratings.”

  • Gaza Strip
  • Occupied Palestine
  • Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
  • Gaza genocide
  • Gaza
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Israeli aggression
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

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