Israeli market poised to contract amid war

With the ongoing Israel-Iran war, the growth of the Israeli tourist market this year is projected to shrink from 52% to 19% due to flight disruptions and expensive airfares, while hotels in Phuket and Samui reported several thousand tourists were left stranded.

- MOLPASORN SHOOWONG

Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong said the conflict has intensified since last week, with airstrikes and attacks between the countries, while airspace closure has affected tourists.

He said the war would heavily impact Israeli arrivals in June and for the entire third quarter, with a 29% year-on-year decline possible.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has drawn up two scenarios to downgrade the target of 427,000 Israeli arrivals and 52% growth in 2025, said Mr Sorawong.

In the first scenario, arrivals total 350,000, an increase of 24%, if tensions ease within the third quarter.

However, if the conflict lasts more than six months, the TAT anticipates 19% growth and arrivals of 335,000.