The tourism sector of the State of Israel in the context of military and political instability in the Middle East
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26906/EiR.2026.1%20(100).4368Keywords:
Middle East, Israel, tourism, development, armed conflict, securityAbstract
The article examines the specifics of the functioning of the Israeli tourism sector through the prism of the security architecture of the Middle East region. It was revealed that the key destructive factor in the development of the industry is military-political instability, the complex impact of which extends both to the zones of direct conflict and to neighboring states. Among the systemic obstacles, socio-economic turbulence, ethno-confessional tension, security risks and limited competitiveness of individual destinations are highlighted. The high adaptability of the Israeli tourism industry to the aggressive external environment is due to its status as a strategic sector of the national economy. State policy is aimed at the comprehensive modernization of the tourism infrastructure and ensuring high security standards, which allows to level some of the risks of regional instability. Israel's competitive advantages in the global tourism market are based on a diversified resource base due to the concentration of sacred monuments, access to the coastal zones of the Mediterranean, Red and Dead Seas, as well as favorable natural and climatic conditions for recreational activities. It has been established that the main limiting factor in the development of the country's tourism sector remains the prolonged Arab-Israeli conflict. There is a direct correlation between the security situation and the dynamics of tourist flows, which is expressed in a decrease in the intensity of air traffic, limiting insurance coverage and suspending pilgrimage programs. The vulnerability of Israel's tourism industry to terrorist threats is due to the desire of extremist groups to destructive actions within the framework of the state's economic development. Despite the fact that tourist locations remain high-risk zones, Israel demonstrates leadership in the implementation of advanced security technologies. This allows minimizing threats and supporting the sustainable development of the country's tourism sector. In modern geopolitical conditions, tourism in the Middle East is transforming into a strategic tool of "soft power", capable of ensuring economic synchronization of markets and becoming a platform for stabilizing interstate relations.
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