The Kotel
Photo: Ofer Meir
Jerusalem's tourism in the shadow of terror
After months of knife attacks, shootings and car-rammings in Jerusalem and a renewed surge of violence, has tourism in the capital been adversely affected, and do tourists feel safe in the city?
With the passing of a tumultuous year in Israel, characterized by terror attacks including stabbings, shooting and car-rammings—many of which took place in Jerusalem—and with a seeming renewed thrust behind the wave of terror, maintaining healthy tourism rates is no simple challenge.
Nevertheless, opinions on whether tourism is on the decline differs. Michael Weis, chairman of the Tourist Forum in Jerusalem, believes that the situation is actually more relaxed than ever. “Any 16-year-old boy who waives a knife is a terrorist. This is a meaningless event in the fabric of Jerusalem—both to residents and tourists,” he said.
Israel Border Police in Jerusalem (Photo: Eli Menedelbaum)
By contrast Yehudah Aslan, who heads the Association of Restaurant Tours, pointed to many cancellations resulting from the security situation and even argues that the tourism industry in the capital is in serious jeopardy. “You see the cancellations that we receive and in the end what helps us is the people from Jerusalem themselves who never stop going out,” Aslan said.
Eilat Lieber from the Tower of David Museum, one of Jerusalem’s most visited sites, believes that the attacks only affect certain spots. “First of all, people know that we are talking about Jerusalem which is a big city and people know how to distinguish between problematic areas and places which are safe to visit,” she insisted.
Tower of David Museum (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum)
Walking through the streets of Jerusalem and its famous tourist hot spots however, one would hardly know that terror had affected the tourism industry as languages from all corners of the globe continue to be heard.
Leah and Lizzie from Hamburg, who are aware of the new impetus behind the cycle of violence, say that no amount of terror will deter them from visiting the holy sites. “People told us it is dangerous in Jerusalem but our faith in Jesus brought us here and nothing will change that—not even the terror,” they said as they stood between the Kotel Tunnels.
Leah and Lizzie (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum)
Jonis, who is visiting Israel for two weeks from Germany, said that the highlight of his trip was his visit to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. “We Germans know first-hand what terror is, and all over the world there is terror. In fact, the feeling here is more safe thanks to increased security and the presence of soldiers and police officers on every corner,” Jonis said.
Jonas: 'here feels safer than everywhere else' (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum)
Many school trips can also be seen in the Jewish Quarter. One such tour was organized by a school in Modi’in which arrived the celebrate a Bat Mitzvah in the Kotel. Itai Navon, a mother of one of the participants told Ynet: “There were a few parents who worried. We did a vote and it was decided that we would go, but accompanied by a security detail.”
Pini Rafael from a development company in the Jewish Quarter agrees that there has been no increase in the number of cancellations. However, he recognizes the complexity of the current situation. “People insist when it comes to the matter of security, but they come en masse to the city,” he said.
