The reason someone would learn the alef beis has very little to do with visiting Israel and more to do with learning Torah.
We gets lotsa tourist ’round here in the holy land. Christians, Chinese, various African tribes in full regalia…….. I betcha most of them can read Hebrew at all.
The alef beis have inherent kedusha, not to mention the obvious but lashon kodesh is the language of the Torah.
Yeah, it won’t help you in getting around Europe. Can’t argue with the facts ……….