8 hours ago
Israel reports that more than 20,000 tourists are still looking to evacuate
The Israel Ministry of Tourism says it has compiled a list of 22,000 tourists seeking to exit Israel in the wake of the ongoing war between the county and Iran.
The ministry has created a digital form for tourists who wish to leave.
According to the ministry, there are still 32,000 tourists in the country as of Friday, down from 40,000 at the start of the war earlier this month.
The list of those wishing to leave Israel has been forwarded to the proper authorities.
"Tourists find themselves in a situation of uncertainty and even distress amid an intense war,' said ministry director Danny Shachar. 'Some are staying here longer than planned, sometimes under difficult financial and personal circumstances.'
Global Rescue has been working to evacuate visitors in Israel, with the travel services company's CEO, Dan Richards, encouraging travelers who wish to leave the country to do so soon.
Some tourists are choosing to leave through Jordan and Egypt at land border crossings, the tourism ministry reported.
Tourism halted
Tourism is suspended in the country amid the war, with operators adjusting itineraries as needed. It is not clear when normal tourism operations could resume. The country's tourism has plummeted since militant group Hamas attacked the country on Oct. 7, 2023, starting an ongoing war. Israel's tourism was poised to begin recovery this year; the war that erupted earlier this month presents a setback to those plans.
'As long as the Iran war is going on, there is no tourism in Israel other than those that were here before June 12 and are trying to get out,' said Ronen Paldi, who lives in Tel Aviv and is president of Ya'lla Tours USA, a tour operator that specializes in the Mediterranean and Middle East.
The Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv has been closed since June 12 with no reopening date determined. And even when the airport reopens, it is not clear when airlines could resume flights into the country. Delta Air Lines has suspended flights to Israel through at least Aug. 31. Reports say other major airlines have suspended flights, as well.
According to Paldi, no tourist sites or attractions have been damaged by Iran's retaliatory missile attacks.
ETS Agents, a faith-based operator that offers Holy Land tours, has relocated its Israel tour groups to Jordan and helped travelers return to the U.S. if requested, a spokesperson said.
The operator said it is evaluating the conditions in Israel on a daily basis. Until tourism in the country resumes, the company is offering itinerary adjustments, alternative destinations and rescheduling.
