There is a new kind of tourism that has emerged in the country in the months since a raid by Palestinian fighters on October 7. Most of the sites damaged have now been transformed into leisure parks and touristic centers.
The battered kibbutzim and border towns are the latest way to rebuild wobbly support with allies abroad. Many of the kibbutzim and towns that experienced the worst destruction are closed to the public, accessible only via organized tours like those for dignitaries or celebrities, or by invitation from a resident. Other parts of southern Israel are open to the public and encouraging visitors – both foreigners and Israelis from elsewhere.
For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others visiting Israel, no trip is complete without a visit to towns and villages near the border with Gaza. Jerry Seinfeld, Elon Musk, Michael Douglas, former presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are a few who have visited, at times posing for photos in front of burned-out homes.
The city of Sderot runs “resilience tours,” connecting groups with survivors who share their memories of Oct. 7 or highlight cultural or culinary offerings.
The visits are also meant to revive the tourism sector hit hard by the war in Gaza. According to figures from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, around 180,000 tourists visited Israel in Q4 of 2023, down from 930,000 tourists in Q4 of 2022, indicating an 81.5% decline.
Hamas fighters killed around 1,200 people as they rampaged through southern Israel, and kidnapped around 250. Health officials in Gaza say more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war that followed.
In contrast to the hardest-hit kibbutzim like Nir Oz, most of Sderot’s residents have returned.
Tourism accounts for about 3% of Israel’s economy and provides direct jobs to around 200,000 people. Fears of a regional escalation have dampened hopes of a revival for the sector in 2024.