'We will lose the next generation too': Warning emerges from tourism sector

More than two years of war have severely damaged incoming tourism to Israel, but figures in the sector are now warning of damage that could persist far beyond the duration of the war: The loss of future tourists. At the annual conference of the Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association, which was held on Wednesday, industry leaders called on the government to formulate a national plan to bring tourists back to Israel. They emphasized achieving this not only in the immediate term, but also by re-establishing a connection with the world's younger generation.According to Yossi Fatael, CEO of the association, incoming tourism served for years as one of Israel's most significant public diplomacy assets. "Millions of people came here, saw Israel with their own eyes, and returned home with a personal experience that no screen and no social network can replace," he said.