Where Israelis Are Traveling: Tourist Flows Gain Momentum

Photo: Wikimedia

The tourist season in Israel is at its peak. Following the end of the war with Iran, outbound travel is recovering rapidly. According to Ben Gurion Airport Authority, 1.1 million Israelis traveled abroad in May and June 2025.

Greece ranks first with 331,000 departures from Tel Aviv over two months, remaining the top destination due to its beach tourism appeal and abundant flight options. Surprisingly, the United States came second with 214,000 departures, driven by family visits, tourism, and shopping despite the long distance and high ticket prices.

Cyprus secured third place with 181,000 travelers, followed by Italy with 172,000 and the UAE with 171,000. France ranked sixth with 133,000, and Georgia came seventh with 114,000 visits. From January to June 2025, Israelis made 171,294 trips to Georgia, a 35.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Israel ranks fourth in terms of total visits and entered Georgia’s top three countries by tourist spending — $242 million total, averaging $1,412 per person.

When choosing airlines, Israelis prefer national carriers. In May and June, 67% of outbound passengers flew with El Al, 20% with Israir, and 13% with Arkia.

However, a sharp drop in passenger traffic was recorded in June 2025 due to a 12-day conflict with Iran. Only 833,000 passengers passed through Ben Gurion Airport that month — 41.4% less than in June 2024, which saw 1.42 million. The conflict led to canceled flights, lower demand, and temporarily suspended international routes.

Between January and May 2025, international passenger traffic grew by 50%, reaching 6.87 million, compared to 4.58 million during the same period in 2024. Dubai became the most popular destination with around half a million travelers — nearly double the figure from early 2024. Athens, Paris, and Larnaca also ranked among the top destinations.

In the first half of 2025, passenger traffic increased by 28.35%, from 6 million in 2024 to 7.7 million. International flights rose from 44,443 to 57,787. The most popular route was Athens, with nearly 563,000 passengers, followed by Dubai, New York, Larnaca, and Paris.

The growth is linked to the return of international carriers to Israel. The ceasefire with Hezbollah on the Lebanese border in November 2024 and the temporary truce in Gaza in January 2025 helped stabilize air travel and boost demand.

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