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CNN Live Today

Violence Deals Crippling Blow to Tourism

Aired April 09, 2002 - 14:55   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Conflict in the Middle East has turned into an economic crisis for business in Israel. In particular, it's dealt a crippling blow to tourism. CNN's Chris Burns reports from Jerusalem.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Mount of Olives, where the Bible says Christ ascended to the heavens. Where believers from around the world used to flock -- no more.

(on camera): This tourist overlook here on the Mount of Olives was built especially for the millennium tourists. And there were thousands of them. Hundreds on a nice day like this, you could see, just filling this area right here, coming in busloads every 15 minutes. Now what you see is a very empty place, with a beautiful view of the Old City.

(voice-over): Two rare visitors are Francois and Beatrice, from Paris. And they didn't come as tourists. They came to visit their daughter, a journalist who works here.

(on camera): Do you go to cafes?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. We avoid that.

BURNS: You avoid that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We avoid the cafe.

BURNS: How do you enjoy yourself here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are enjoying visiting the city.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The city is very interesting.

BURNS (voice-over): On to the Old City, a place under tight security. At the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site where Christians believe Christ was crucified, Israeli soldiers are the biggest tour group. At the Western Wall, a trickle of believers. And above, at Islam's Dome of the Rock, access is highly restricted by Israeli authorities.

(on camera): This is the sixth station of the cross on the Via Della Rosa. No tourist to be found here at all. Just some kids playing marbles.

(voice-over): Shopkeepers in the Old City's winding passages spend more time playing games than tending to customers.

(on camera): I'm the first person here in a week?

NASSER BARAKAT, SHOPKEEPER: Yes, sir.

BURNS: Well, I have to buy something then.

BARAKAT: I hope so.

BURNS: Why so futurists here? One explanation is this U.S. State Department travel warning, which urges Americans to defer travel to Israel. And if they come, to avoid such locations as restaurants and cafes, shopping areas and malls. That doesn't leave many other places to visit.

(voice-over): Most visitors we run into come in defiance, like Jonathan Matkowski, a Jewish New Yorker.

JONATHAN MATKOWSKI, TOURIST: On September 11th, as a New Yorker, I remember listening to Bush say the way to win the war against terror is, you know, from inside as much as the front lines. By living our lives as ordinary -- as we ordinarily would. And that's what I'm going to do.

BURNS: Deborah Lynch is a pastor from Bellingham, Washington.

DEBORAH LYNCH, PASTOR: This is the time to come.

BURNS (on camera): So you're on a mission. You're not here as a tourist.

LYNCH: No, I'm not here as a tourist.

BURNS (voice-over): Back on the Mount of Olives, it's a lonely life for Nasser Mahmoud and his camel, Kojak.

MAHMOUD NASSER, CAMEL OWNER: Business one week, I don't make one penny.

BURNS: Nasser says all he can do is hope, helplessly, for himself and for Kojak, for peace to come. Chris Burns, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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