**Fatshimetry**
Tourism in Israel, a thriving industry known for its iconic religious and cultural sites, has recently seen the emergence of a new form of visitation: celebrities, politicians and influencers travel to towns and villages near the Gaza border. This trend has gained momentum since the attack by Palestinian fighters on October 7.
Celebrities like Jerry Seinfeld, Elon Musk, Michael Douglas, former presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have made the visits, sometimes taking photo opportunities in front of destroyed homes.
While dignitary and VIP trips to Israel traditionally included stops at famous religious or cultural sites such as the Western Wall, Masada, the Sea of Galilee, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the National Holocaust Memorial , Yad Vashem, visits to devastated kibbutzim and towns became a way to strengthen relations with foreign allies.
These visits also aim to revitalize the tourism sector hard hit by the war in Gaza. Figures from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics indicate a significant drop of 81.5% with just 180,000 tourists in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to 930,000 in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Hamas fighters killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped around 250 individuals during their attack. Gaza health authorities estimate that more than 37,000 Palestinians lost their lives in the ensuing conflicts.
Many of the worst-hit kibbutzim and towns are closed to the public, accessible only through tours organized for VIPs or by invitation from residents. Other areas of southern Israel are open to visitors, both foreigners and Israelis from other areas.
In Sderot, the city offers “resilience tours” connecting survivors sharing their experiences of October 7 or highlighting local cultural and gastronomic offerings.
While kibbutzim like Nir Oz are still hard hit, most Sderot residents have returned to their homes. Further south, the grounds of the Nova music festival have become a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of daily visitors, with poignant tributes paid to the victims.
With this in mind, the organization “Triumph of the Spirit” offers virtual reality tours of three kibbutzim. Currently reserved for soldiers on educational visits, an English version will soon be available for international tourists.
Tourism represents around 3% of the Israeli economy and directly employs around 200,000 people. Fears of regional escalation have clouded prospects for sector recovery in 2024.
In this context, the visit of celebrities and foreign personalities to the affected areas offers an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges facing the region, while highlighting the importance of international solidarity and support for reconstruction.
Ultimately, these visits are not only prestige trips, but also an opportunity to witness the resilience and determination of locals, while promoting dialogue and understanding between cultures.