Tourism is one of the industries hardest hit by the war. Almost all foreign airlines no longer fly to Israel and it is still unclear when they will return. Currently, workers in the sector are eligible for the assistance program until December, which begins tomorrow. At this stage, it is unclear whether the program will be extended and how. Tourism industry officials are furious and are demanding immediate intervention from the Treasury.
Kobi Karni, Chairman of the Israel Travel Agencies Association, spoke with concern: "I call on the Minister of Finance and the Chairman of the Finance Committee to act urgently to remove the sword of uncertainty that is placed on the necks of tourism industry workers and to immediately approve the extension of the economic assistance program to December, just as the law allows them. It is inconceivable that we are only a few days before the beginning of December and no notice has been received regarding the extension of the assistance program to December. Many industries are returning to work to one degree or another, and I welcome that. However, the tourism industry is still at 20% activity, with most airlines not flying again, and therefore must receive the continued assistance allowed by law." Karni added: "As usual, the Ministry of Finance is moving at its own pace, with indifference to the economic fate of citizens and businesses. How should a company manager plan his steps for December without certainty? How can he give his employees confidence that they will have a livelihood in December? Isn't it time for the government to wean itself off the practice of making decisions when their time has passed and their sacrifice has passed? I cannot beautify the reality – if an immediate announcement is not received about extending the assistance program by another month, the companies will be forced to put thousands of workers on unpaid leave in the coming days. I would like to mention that the compensation mechanism under the law helps only those who are harmed by the situation, and therefore the expectation is that very few industries will need assistance in December. The tourism industry is one of those industries and it needs it like oxygen to ensure the exit from the crisis when the time comes."
Kobi Karni, Chairman of the Israel Travel Agencies Association, photo: PR
Yossi Fattal, CEO of the Association of Incoming Tourism Organizers in Israel, also commented on the difficult situation of the industry and its workers: "The compensation framework given to businesses for October and November was closed only two weeks ago, in mid-November. Tomorrow is December and the Ministry of Finance insists on living in a time zone that does not exist and therefore has not yet announced what will happen and if at all a blueprint for December. In practice, the Ministry of Finance manages countries economically retroactively. Businesses can't be run this way, and moreover, instead of support, there is damage here. If we know today that in January and February there will be no support, even if the war ends, because incoming tourism takes several months to get started, and there may be businesses that will prefer to close and lay off and reduce damage. Certainty is a prerequisite in business management. Every responsible body, and certainly the state, must plan the action plan in advance according to reference scenarios, and accordingly act and not make decisions retroactively. The time tunnel of the decision-making process at the Ministry of Finance is suitable for cinemas and not for the reality of our lives."
Yossi Fattal, Photo: Israel Association of Incoming Tourism Organizers
So far, quite a few attempts have been made to get foreign airlines to resume operating direct flights to and from Israel, but so far, without success. Ethiopian Airlines will return this weekend, but apart from it, all the airlines currently active at Ben Gurion Airport have been active since the beginning of the war, including: Etihad, Fly Dubai, Hainan, Red Wings, Azimut and Uzbekistan Airways, alongside Israeli airlines, El Al, Arkia and Israir, which continue to fly.
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