To the surprise of some friends and family, I traveled to Israel on a seven-night reporting trip and returned home on April 8, less than a week before Iran launched its attack on the country.
Considering that attack, would you go back? In a heartbeat.
Would you encourage others to follow suit? That is a decision each traveler must make.
What I can tell you is that my first visit to Israel was a transformative experience. For the purposes of this column, I focus on his experience in Israel six months after the October 7 Hamas attack. If you want to know more about the destination itself, look for my story in the AGENTatHOME July issue.
What made this trip so transformative? Many speak fluent English and there are also a significant number of Americans who call this country home, but the exotic nature of the destination itself and Coupled with this was the level of comfort I felt with Israelis.
Claudette Covey of Jerusalem; (Source: Claudette Covey)
One small but dedicated group of people traveling to Israel are American Jews, many of whom do so as a way to show solidarity with Israel.
A couple on their honeymoon who met in Jerusalem, Joshua and Hannah Abraham from Austin, Texas, were first-time visitors and on their honeymoon.
“We just wanted to visit the land of Israel,” Joshua Abraham said. “We planned to be here by October 7th and we were a little worried after October 7th, but we don’t want that to stop us from celebrating our honeymoon and showing our support for the State of Israel. did. “
The couple, who had spent a week sightseeing in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, said they, like me, had a life-changing travel experience and plan to return someday with their 2-year-old daughter.
“We don’t feel any threat to our safety or anything,” Joshua Abraham said. “It feels great to be in a country where we’re not a minority.”
The press trip, sponsored by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, began in Tel Aviv and continued to Jerusalem, Caesarea, Haifa, and the Dead Sea.
Our group, which consisted of four journalists, a representative from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, and a guide, was enthusiastically greeted by Israelis everywhere we went, including restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions. They seemed really happy to see visitors from the US again.
These days, the country’s hotels have attracted business primarily from domestic travel by Israelis seeking respite from the war. It also houses people displaced by war, as evidenced during a visit to the Dead Sea.
While it is impossible to predict when tourists will begin to return substantially, tourism officials remain hopeful that tourism will return to healthier levels in the not-too-distant future.
Pini Shani, deputy director of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, said in an interview at the International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM) Expo, “I think the bulk of the trade has not sold Israel yet, but there are plans to sell Israel.” Told. It was held in Tel Aviv on April 3rd and 4th.
“We don’t have many reservations for 2025 yet,” he said. “Once the situation calms down, people will come back, just like they did when the coronavirus ended.”
I hope he’s right.
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