Almost two months ago, an iron sword war began and as time went on, passenger numbers naturally dropped. Now, in parallel with the ceasefire, various tourism companies are reporting an increase in demand for flights abroad, and the trend is quite clear – there are several destinations at the top of the list, with one of the main drivers being a sense of security.
"We're definitely seeing an increase in searches and bookings on the company's website. Israelis are beginning to seek refuge in a short break abroad. This happens mainly around Hanukkah and the Christmas markets and is characterized by relatively short vacations and a short flight distance. This only illustrates the fact that alongside the Israelis' need to get some air, there is still a strong desire to stay close and close to events and the country. The most prominent destinations are considered both sympathetic and especially interesting around Christmas, Budapest, Prague and especially beloved Athens," says Nir Mazor, VP Aviation Relations.
Clear support for Israel on the streets of Berlin, Photo: AP
Diesenhaus is also feeling the increase in demand, Hani Sobol, the company's CEO, explains: "The tourism industry is strongly influenced by the general mood. A week of fighting and vigilance, or alternatively, a week of optimism and hope, will have an almost immediate impact on consumer behavior. Christmas and Hanukkah are traditionally holidays that Israelis really like to vacation. There is freedom in schools, prices are more affordable compared to the summer and the uniqueness of the markets this season – all these make December a month with high volume of bookings."
"December of this year is, of course, an exception with low volumes. At the same time, we see two trends that indicate the beginning of change. The first is for people who had already booked flights before the war for the Christmas period. Unlike what we saw in October, when there were many cancellations, during November the picture changes, and the percentage of cancellations decreased significantly. The second trend concerns orders. We are still talking about drips only but there are orders. We usually define these trips as 'ventilation trips', these are trips for a few days, usually to nearby destinations. Israelis understand that we live in a reality that seems to continue over time, so people are trying to return to a certain routine in all areas of life. It is also clear that hopeful circumstances, such as those of this week, also contribute to the same trend," Sobol concludes.
Thailand and the US are still in demand, Photo: GettyImages
The flight search engine Explorer also reports the same increase in demand for flights for December, Lior Koren, the company's CEO, explains: "We are seeing a slight increase in bookings for the end of 2023 and 2024. I also recommend making sure in advance that the agency you book through (or the airline) has customer service available. With us, the team has been prepared since the beginning of the war and provides a solution to any customer problem. Our most sought-after destinations are Athens, Tbilisi, Larnaca, Gankok and Chisinau."
An examination we conducted with airlines and tourism companies shows that mainly Eastern European destinations and nearby destinations in Europe are in demand during this period, including Budapest, Prague, Berlin, Warsaw, Athens, Tbilisi and Larnaca. At the same time, there are two destinations where demand remains high despite the distance: New York and Bangkok.
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