"While we haven’t seen any significant cancellations yet, bookings have slowed down," said Shirley Cohen Orkaby, deputy CEO of Israeli travel agency Eshet Tours. "Unfortunately, Israelis have faced numerous incidents over the past year, so we expect this to be an isolated event. Additionally, authorities worldwide are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of Israeli tourists. However, we have noticed a shift in demand toward destinations where Israelis feel more secure, such as Prague, Poland, and Montenegro."
Romi Zohar, an Israeli planning to travel to Amsterdam with her daughter, who is joining the military later this month, said they would proceed with their trip. "I’m not sure what’s more dangerous—taking her to Amsterdam or sending her to the army," she said. "When we booked, we thought Amsterdam would be safer than London or Paris, but honestly, I don’t even feel safe walking around Jerusalem. Nowadays, nowhere feels completely secure, so we decided to go."
Romi, who also holds French citizenship, added that she and her daughter planned to keep a low profile and speak French while in the Netherlands. "It makes us feel less likely to be recognized," she explained. "What happened in Amsterdam could happen anywhere. Incidents like these are constantly happening, though on a smaller scale, across Europe."
Doron Plesser, a former Israeli living in the Netherlands for 32 years and working as a tour guide and taxi driver, described the situation in the Netherlands as calm. "I didn’t expect this—I’m in complete shock. I’ve been here for 32 years and have never experienced anything like this; it’s insane," he said. "I’ve had a lot of cancellations for tours next week, even today." He emphasized that this issue goes beyond just Jews or Israelis. "Once they’re done with us, they’ll move on to other groups in an attempt to dominate Europe," he said.
Tali Noy, VP of marketing and sales at Issta travel agency, noted, "We’re not seeing any significant change in booking trends to Europe. Despite the shocking event in Amsterdam, there haven’t been major cancellations. Most of the bookings are for Eastern Europe’s Christmas markets—Prague, Berlin, and Budapest—along with destinations like Thailand and Dubai, where the weather is warmer in winter."
Meanwhile, the IDF announced on Sunday that, following a reassessment of the security situation, soldiers are once again allowed to travel to the Netherlands. "IDF personnel in the Netherlands must follow military guidelines for overseas leave," the statement read.
