Conflict causing minimal impact for Eilat tourism
Despite the end of the latest ceasefire and the resumption of hostilities in Gaza, life in Israel’s premier resort city is carrying on as usual with the summer vacation period in full swing.
Tourism officials in Eilat have released a Youtube video, highlighting the stable security situation in the south and the municipality is gearing up for a range of tourism events in the coming weeks.
Vacationers are not letting the conflict disrupt vacation time either, as one US tourist said: "We are not going to the let the rockets rain on our parade."
Avi Kandelker, director of Eila tourism office says hotel room occupancy remains close to normal levels at 80%.
He is expecting more of the same during Eilat’s high profile Red Sea Jazz Festival taking place from 24-27 August which traditionally sees a temporary spike in visitor numbers.
Visitors spoke of "normality" in the resort and the "exaggeration" of international media stories covering the conflict.
Israel Tourist and Travel Association’s director, Yossi Fattal, recently said international markets may take time to return to normal visitation levels in other regions of the country.
"60 seconds after the war is over, Israeli tourists are back to business as usual but foreign tourists, on the other hand, have a long memory."
The Israel Hotel Association estimates the hotel industry has lost over $100 million in cancelled bookings nationwide during July and early August.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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