Bank of Israel Study Identifies Tourists Most Likely to Visit During Times of Peril

The Bank of Israel has conducted a survey unlikely to be undertaken in most countries: the identification of who are the tourists that can be relied upon to visit in times of peril. In periods marked by war or terrorism, the study suggests that businesspeople and those coming to Israel to visit family members will continue to come. Jewish tourists and those who have visited before are also more likely to ignore official warnings of danger. Non-Jewish tourists are expected to cancel travel plans that include Israel. Despite that finding, many recall that during the second Intifada, the period of violence between 2000 and 2006, many Christian tour groups pointedly traveled to Israel specifically in order to express solidarity. The study also suggests that positive media coverage in the form of lifestyle stories has no effect on incoming tourism while positive economic/business stories does have a positive effect.