Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reported that 218,000 visitors entered Israel in July, a 21% drop from the previous year.

Turism is one of economic sectors hardest hit by the rocket fire from Gaza, which in July sank to its lowest level in seven years.

The CBS that the sector experienced a 21% drop in tourist entries in July, and 26% drop in day visitors to Israel, compared with July 2013.

The CBS data further indicate that on July 22-25, the days on which foreign carriers suspended flights to Israel, another low was recorded: only 2,300 tourist entries per-day came through Ben Gurion airport.

Nearly all European countries have issued travel warnings, advising their citizens to stay at least 40 kilometers away from Gaza, the range most vulnerable to Hamas rocket attacks, as well as from the Judea and Samaria and the Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem.

The United States also issued several travel warnings urging US citizens to be cautious and avoid “areas of unrest.” The question remains how quickly the sector will bounce back; 2014 was on course to be a record-setting year, and even with the July drop in tourists there was a 13% increase over the first seven months of the 2013.