Many countries in the Middle East rejoiced about the recovery of the tourism sector and the return of tourist groups, after countries and cities ended closing their borders due to the outbreak of the Corona epidemic. Though, this joy did not last long, as the war between Israel and Hamas came to disappoint.
A New York Times report stated that the new war between Israel and Gaza, wich threatened the security and stability of the entire region, affected the tourism sector in many leading countries in the field, especially Egypt and Jordan, according to the Al-Hurra website.
The newspaper believes that the decline in the number of tourists “poses a major threat to the economies of Egypt,Jordan and other countries that rely heavily on tourism,and has quickly led to a reversal of the high pace that these destinations witnessed last year.”
The war affected all sectors related to tourism and travel, as international travel companies reduced or postponed their trips.
Cruise lines have redeployed ships, while airlines have significantly reduced their services in the region.
Many travelers, heeding their governments’ warnings and concerns, felt anxious about visiting the region, which led to a widespread campaign of flight cancellations.
Local tour operators fear that the impact of a “prolonged war in the region” will be more detrimental to the future of the sector.
While the truce between Hamas and Israel continues for its seventh day, there is still fear of a resumption of the war that began with Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, before Israel began bombing the Gaza Strip that lasted about 49 days.
Khaled Ibrahim, a consultant at amisol Travel Egypt, told the newspaper, “We all hope that this war will not escalate and destroy the hopes that Arabs and Israelis alike were clinging to.”
He said that Amisol Travel received only 40 to 50% of its typical bookings for the months between February and September 2024.
For his part, Hussein Abdullah, general manager of Lebanon Travel and Tourism, believes that “all of Lebanon is 100% safe,” but he said that he has not received a single reservation as the start of the war, which ended a “very good year” prematurely.
he added that tourist sites such as the Jeita Grotto and the baalbek Temples, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which usually receive thousands of visitors daily, are now empty.
“Demand in most Middle Eastern countries is deteriorating,” said Olivier Ponti, vice president of Forward Keys, a data analysis firm that tracks global air travel bookings.
In the three weeks following October 7, flight bookings to the Middle East decreased by 26% compared to bookings for the same period in 2019.
Tickets coming to Israel fell to less than negative 100%, compared to the same period in 2019, as cancellations exceeded the number of new tickets issued.
Ponte said the conflict between Israel and Hamas “weakened consumer confidence in traveling elsewhere.”
According to the Forward Keys analysis, flight bookings to all regions of the world declined, falling by 5% in the weeks promptly following the war, compared to the corresponding weeks in 2019.
The war came at a time when tourism in the Middle East was witnessing a strong increase since the end of the Corona epidemic.
From January to July this year, visitor arrivals to the Middle East were 20% higher than the same period in 2019, making it the only region in the world to exceed pre-pandemic levels, according to the World Tourism Association. of the United Nations.
just a week before the war, Ahmed Issa, Egypt’s chief tourism official, told the Associated Press that there was “unprecedented demand for travel to Egypt,” with about 10 million people visiting in the first half of this year.
The Egyptian government,which hopes to record a record 15 million visitors in 2023,has been seeking to increase the number of hotel rooms and aircraft seats available,as part of efforts to encourage increased private investment in tourism.
It is indeed noteworthy that the American and canadian governments,such as,do not encourage travel to Israel,Egypt and Lebanon.
The US State Department recommended that its citizens leave Lebanon while flights are still available.
As for Jordan, both the United States and Canada advise visitors to exercise extra caution.
Meanwhile, flights to Israel have fallen by more than half, with just over 2,000 flights scheduled this month compared to about 5,000 flights during November 2022, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Major American airlines, which suspended regular flights to Israel’s main airport shortly after the start of the war, did not resume.
Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan, which are among the countries geographically closest to the conflict, rely heavily on tourism.
The sector contributes between 12 and 26% of the total profits from abroad for these three countries, according to a recent report issued by S&P Global Ratings, an international credit rating institution.
According to the report published on November 6,“These countries,the immediate neighbors of Israel and gaza,are more vulnerable to a slowdown in tourism,given concerns about security risks associated with the conflict.”
“The crisis in Gaza or the perilous escalation in the West Bank could lead to a new wave of refugees that would burden economies in the region,” the report stated.
What are the long-term effects of geopolitical conflicts on the tourism industry in the Middle East?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Tourism Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome to Time.news. Today,we’re joined by Olivier Ponti,Vice president of Forward Keys,an expert in tourism analytics. olivier, thank you for joining us amidst these turbulent times.
Olivier Ponti: Thank you for having me. It’s indeed a challenging moment for the tourism sector, especially in the Middle East.
time.news Editor: Let’s dive in. Many countries in the Middle East were witnessing a tourism revival after the pandemic restrictions. how has the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas impacted this recovery?
Olivier Ponti: The outbreak of the war has had a devastating effect. Just as we were beginning to see an increase in tourist arrivals and optimism, the situation flipped.Countries like Egypt and Jordan, which heavily depend on tourism, are facing notable declines in arrivals.This poses a major threat to their economies, especially after last year’s hopeful recovery.
Time.news Editor: That’s deeply concerning.Reports suggest that it’s not just the tourist numbers that are declining, but also the services related to travel. can you shed some light on that?
Olivier Ponti: Absolutely. Travel companies are responding to these security concerns by reducing or postponing trips altogether. We’ve seen major cruise lines redeploying their ships away from the region,and airlines are cutting back their services. It’s creating a domino effect that further escalates the anxiety among potential travelers.
Time.news Editor: many potential tourists are understandably anxious about visiting the region.How are local travel operators responding to this crisis?
Olivier Ponti: Local operators are in a precarious position. Many are expressing fears about the long-term consequences of a prolonged conflict. Such as, Khaled ibrahim from Amisol Travel recently mentioned they’re seeing only 40 to 50 percent of their usual bookings for early 2024.This inadequacy in demand is alarming for local economies that rely on tourism income.
Time.news Editor: And what about Lebanon? We understand they had a robust tourist year before the onset of the conflict.
olivier Ponti: Indeed, Lebanon was experiencing a very good year until the conflict escalated. Hussein Abdullah from Lebanon Travel highlighted that he hasn’t received a single reservation since the start of the war,which has left iconic sites like the Jeita Grotto and Baalbek Temples empty instead of bustling with visitors.
time.news Editor: It sounds like a grim situation for many in the industry. What can be done to mitigate the damage and restore confidence among travelers?
Olivier ponti: Restoration of confidence hinges on stability and safety in the region. Clear interaction about safety, simultaneous containment of the violence, and potential international involvement to mediate peace could help alleviate palpable fears. Also, targeted marketing campaigns focusing on the safety of destinations and possible economic incentives for travelers might encourage them to return once the situation stabilizes.
Time.news Editor: It seems that the possibility of an extended conflict could harm the tourism industry in ways we can’t yet fully comprehend. What’s your outlook on the future of tourism in the Middle East?
Olivier Ponti: The outlook is precarious at best. While there’s a strong desire among locals and even international tourists to visit and experience the rich history and beauty of the region, ongoing volatility raises doubts. Recovery will largely depend on swift and effective conflict resolution and building a narrative of safety and security.
time.news Editor: Thank you, Olivier, for those insights. It’s evident that the implications of geopolitical conflicts extend far beyond immediate security concerns,affecting local economies and livelihoods. We appreciate your time and expertise on this critical issue.
Olivier Ponti: Thank you for having me. Let’s hope for peace and stability to return soon, which is essential for the recovery of the tourism sector in the Middle East.