Estimate: 200,000 tourists will be lost in July and August 2006

passengers arrivals at Ben-Gurion Airport over the first three weeks of July fell 5%
 
Statistics published last week by Israel Airports Authority indicated that due to the outbreak of violence in the north of the country, passengers arrivals at Ben-Gurion Airport over the first three weeks of July fell 5%.
 
Arrivals at Ben-Gurion International Airport fell to 303,433 during the first three weeks of July, from 319,303 passengers in the parallel period last year. Following the publication of the statistics, industry experts estimated that some 200,000 tourists will be lost in July and August.
 
Director general of the Israel Travel Agents Association Yossi Fatael said that approximately half of the travelers with immediate plans to come to Israel had cancelled their trips.
 
However, he noted that those travelers with booking more than a month in advance were still holding their reservations.