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Travel agencies cautious as pilgrimage demand returns amid Mideast conflict
Demand for Mideast tours from Indonesian travelers is returning slowly as the Hamas-Israel war continues into 2024, though the head of a pilgrimage tour association notes that demand for such packages had been relatively unaffected by the conflict.
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The Dome of the Rock in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound of Jerusalem's Old City, as viewed from the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem. is seen in this photo taken on Jan. 2, 2023. (AFP/Ahmad Gharabli)
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ocal travel agencies have expressed cautious optimism amid an uptick in demand for pilgrimage tour packages to Middle Eastern destination, following a monthslong suspension of such tours after the Hamas-Israel war erupted last year.
And even as the conflict appears to be spreading to other Gulf countries this year, they are gearing up to resume such packages.
Cahaya Kabah Travel usually offers haj and umrah (minor haj) tours and services to Muslims interested in visiting the Holy Land and its sacred sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
However, the agency’s owner Agus Widodo told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that he had observed a drop in interest in its pilgrimage tours since Israel launched its war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 8.
He attributed the decline in demand to a general concern among potential travelers about security in the region, especially given the continuing news coverage on the war into this year.
“Israel has kept its tourist visa [services] open for visitors, including those from Indonesia who want to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories. However, there has been a slight decrease in interest," Agus said.
He added that while demand for pilgrimage tours had not returned to prewar levels, most tours to the Palestinian territories this month were fully booked and trips that had been postponed since last year had been rescheduled to March.
