Israel-Gaza war: tourism ‘at a standstill’, with hotels hosting refugees or facing closure, and flights, tours and cruises cancelled

Hotels across Israel and the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank have emptied of tourists since Hamas’ deadly attack and Israel’s bombing of Gaza in response

Airlines and cruise lines have suspended services to Israel and tours have been axed or postponed. ‘Business is at a standstill,’ says a Bethlehem tour guide

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A man walks down a street past closed shops in the Christian quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. Tourism has largely come to a standstill since Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on October 7 on Israel, which responded with a bombardment of Gaza. Photo: AFP

Reuters

Published: 11:45am, 17 Oct 2023Updated: 11:39am, 19 Oct 2023

Early this month, the main square and streets around Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity were bustling with tourists.

Now they are empty after a devastating attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas in Israel on October 7.

“Business is at a standstill since the war started,” said Essa Abu Dawoud, a tour guide in the Palestinian city. “The roads were cut off, no one is coming.”

Across Israel and the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, hotels have emptied and at least six companies have stopped trips to top destinations such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as the conflict escalates. Two tour operators have called off trips until next year.

The streets of Jerusalem’s Old City are empty of tourists. The Israel-Gaza war has brought the tourism industry in Israel and the Palestinian-controlled West Bank to a standstill. Photo: Reuters

Cruise ships are avoiding Israel’s once-bustling shores and major airlines have stopped flying to and from Israel, while governments have scrambled to get their citizens home.