PARIS. Current demonstrations and unrest in many tourist countries caused anxiety among travelers this year, hindering their movement and sometimes threatening their physical integrity. IN France, mass protests rock almost every city in the country, citizens demand the abolition of the controversial reform of the insurance system and increase the working age to 64 years from the current 62. Demonstrations against the reform of President Macron were accompanied by strikes in the transport of the French capital, major cities and railway workers. Iconic monuments of Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower, have closed their doors to visitors these days.

In recent months and Israel, with a large number of citizens protesting Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to limit the powers of the Supreme Court. The general strike led to the closure of Ben Gurion Airport. IN Germanythe Verdi trade union strike in March disrupted air and train traffic for 24 hours.

However, tourists continue to flock to these popular but turbulent destinations. The hotel occupancy rate in the French capital since the beginning of the protest movement was 68%, significantly higher than in 2022, but also in 2019. Data from the international federation of hoteliers STR shows a similar trend in Tel Aviv.

In both cities, hotel room prices are higher this year than last year. However, tourists seem determined to ignore the protests in order to make their planned trips.

While political turmoil and protests often affect potential visitors’ travel plans, travel agencies and hotels are finding tourists this year refusing to change their plans and determined to travel after three years of pandemic restrictions. in a newspaper article Wall Street Journal.

Christy Leakey, 47, a historian from South Dakota, USA, planned a family trip to Paris for March last year. However, her family was forced to cancel their plans due to concerns about the continued spread of COVID. A year later, Licci says that this time nothing will stop her, emphasizing her disinterest in violent protests on the streets of French cities.

Leakey’s family – two daughters, mother and herself – visited Paris in March. Throughout the trip, they followed the advice of hosts on the Airbnb platform. The owner directed them to a special site that informed its users about disruptions in transport and the closure of museums due to the strike. At the same time, the owner of the apartment informed a group of Americans in real time through messages about possible threats on the streets. “He protected us from pranks,” Leakey says.