Since the start of the war with Iran, Israel has continued to monitor the status of tourists within the country while coming to the aid of those looking to leave the destination.
The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) said that when the war began, there were about 37,000 tourists in Israel. That number has since dropped to about 21,500 visitors who arrived over the past three months.
Despite security and travel challenges, around 2,500 tourists have entered Israel since the operation began, while about 16,000 have left as of March 10, according to the IMOT.
During the period when the country’s airspace was closed, IMOT operated a shuttle service for tourists who wished to depart via the Taba land border crossing into Egypt. IMOT discontinued the service when outbound flights resumed in limited numbers.
Now, travelers looking to depart the country can do so via the land border crossing by public transportation.
Meanwhile, on the hotel front, properties nationwide are offering tourists “flexible accommodations” and lower rates, the IMOT said.
For example, Fattal Hotels offers discounts to visitors and residents; The Inbal Jerusalem Hotel provides reduced rates for current guests; and Dan Hotels offers lower rates to guests requesting extended stays.
“Ministry staff are fully committed to the mission, working together with all government bodies and the tourism industry to ensure a responsible and orderly response,” said IMOT Director General Michael Izhakov.
“Alongside our responsibility to assist citizens whose homes have been damaged, we are also committed to the tens of thousands of tourists staying in Israel during this challenging period,” he added.
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