Jewish, Muslim, Christian Jerusalem Old City vendors say reduced tourism is harming businesses

Shopkeepers across all four quarters of Jerusalem's Old City report that reduced inbound tourism over the past three years, since the war began, is severely harming their businesses. Vendors cite a shortage of flights, high airfares, and lingering security fears abroad as the main causes. Some express cautious optimism for recovery around the upcoming Jewish New Year.

Shopkeepers across the Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Armenian quarters of Jerusalem's Old City say that the weakened state of inbound tourism to Israel over the last three years, since the outbreak of war, has put businesses under prolonged strain. Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, vendors pointed to a shortage of flights, high airfares, and lingering fears abroad over security as the chief reasons traffic into Israel has been suffering. Eitan, owner of a family shop in the Jewish Quarter, said the day-to-day tourism is "horrible" and that a meaningful recovery will remain out of sight until airlines return. Dia, a vendor in the Arab Quarter, said business is "very, very slow" and that three years on, "nobody comes." Hassan, a souvenir vendor near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, described business as "very weak" and said there are "no tourists now." In the Armenian Quarter, Garo Sandrouni, who operates a ceramics gallery, said the last three years have been the worst in his four decades of operations. Tourism expert Dr. Eran Ketter pointed to geopolitical instability, the stronger shekel, limited air capacity, and higher travel costs as factors suppressing demand. Tourism Ministry Director-General Michael Izhakov identified the lack of flight accessibility as a major bottleneck, stating, "When there are no flights, there is no tourism." Despite the economic situation, some vendors remained optimistic, with Eitan saying, "I believe things will be good again."