Israeli Tourism to Turkey on Rapid Rebound After Terror Scare

By Shimon B. Lifkin

Entrance area to the Istanbul Airport. (Arne Müseler)

YERUSHALAYIM – Turkey is making a rapid recovery as a top tourist destination now that concerns over Iranian terror attacks against Israelis in the country have eased, reported Globes on Wednesday.

Even before the National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Bureau lowered the warning Level 4, the highest, to Level 3, moderate, tourist traffic to Istanbul was already rebounding amid reports that Iranian terror squads there had been neutralized.

Eshet Tours VP Shirley Cohen-Orkaby said, “The capture of the Iranian terrorists, the visit of Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and the feeling that the situation has calmed down have given a huge boost to bookings of vacations in Turkey. We are currently seeing a jump of tens of percentages from last week and even more compared with the peak of the crisis,” according to Globes.

Flying Carpet VP marketing and sales Oren Cohen Meguri said the same: “Our call center has been flooded with enquiries from Israelis who canceled their vacation when the travel warning was in effect and are now asking to rebook.” The Level 4 warning, which urged Israelis to leave Turkey immediately, also did not prompt a hurried flight from the country. Many Israelis chose to stay despite the danger, and others flew to Istanbul in the middle of the crisis.

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