We’ve compiled this handy resource with Israel travel and tourism statistics. Whilst 2020 and 2021 were slow years for tourism globally, the years before the covid pandemic where record breaking, with growing tourism statistics year after year. Here are our top Israel tourism and travel statistics.
Tourism and Israel’s Economy
- Tourism accounts for 2.8% of Israel’s GVA as of 2018. OECD
- 3.6% of the Israeli workforce are directly employed in the tourist industry. OECD
- 6% of the Israeli workforce estimated to be indirectly employed as of 2018. OECD
- Tourism accounts for 5% of Israel’s total exports ($5.8bn) in 2018. OECD
- Israel has 8,300 licensed tour guides. Knesset.
Israel Tourist Statistics
- Israel had 4.5 million tourist entries in 2019, the largest number ever.
- In 2020 this dropped to 830,000. Israel Government CBS.
- The largest source of tourists visiting Israel is the USA, with 960,000 visitors in 2019. France (367k), Russia (318k) Germany (289k), UK (235k), Italy (190k), Poland (157k), China (147k), Ukraine (135k), Romania (121k). Israel Government CBS.
- In addition to the numbers above, 360,000 visitors entered Israel for less than one day, mostly cruise ship visitors and those crossing land borders. Israel Government CBS.
How People Travel in Israel
- 25% of visitors to Israel come as part of a group tour whilst 75% come alone (FIT’s). Israel Ministry of Tourism.
- Counts a tourist as anybody visiting on a tourist visa, which therefore includes a large number of business travelers, non-citizens with homes, family, and friends in Israel, and other.
- 19% of tourists visiting Israel come for pilgrimage, 25% to sightsee.
- 29% come to visit family and friends, 14% for other leisure purposes, 8% for business, and 4% for other purposes. Israel Ministry of Tourism
- 39% of tourists stayed between 5-9 days, with 29% staying for 2-4 days, 18% staying from 10-29 days, and the remainder visiting for one day or over 30 days. Israel Government CBS.
- The average cost of a one-day tour in Israel is $100. Tourist Israel
- The overall average stay is 10 nights. Israel Ministry of Tourism
- 44% of tourists are returning visitors to the country. Israel Ministry of Tourism
Israel Hotel Statistics
- Israel has 56,000 tourist hotel rooms as of 2020. Israel Government CBS.
- Tel Aviv has 83 hotels with approximately 8,800 rooms, Jerusalem 88 hotels with 11,000 rooms, Eilat 50 hotels with 11,000 rooms, Tiberias 37 with 4,000 rooms, the Dead Sea 15 hotels with 4,000 rooms. Israel Government CBS.
- In addition to hotels are over 15,000 rooms in hostels, guest houses, apart-hotels, and short term rental apartments.
- Israel’s tourist hotels had 70% average occupancy in 2019 with an average stay of 2.8 nights. Israel Government CBS
- In addition to official hotels, 13,000 apartments in Tel Aviv are estimated to be used as short term vacation rentals such as Airbnb properties. Haaretz.
- Tel Aviv is the most expensive city to stay in Israel as of 2019 with an average night in a hotel costing $256. Dead Sea comes second at $211, and Jerusalem third at $203. HVS.
- Israel has over 50 hotels under construction with the leading chains developing new properties being Isrotel, Brown Hotels, Hilton, Accor, and Selina. HVS.
Israel Airport, Flight, and Airline Statistics
- 6 million international passengers (tourists and Israelis) passed through Ben Gurion Airport in 2021.
- This was contrast to 24 million in 2019, the busiest year ever. IAA
- Israel has 3 international airlines – El Al, Israir, and Arkia. IAA
- As of 2021, the largest 10 airlines operating at Ben Gurion Airport are El Al (23% passenger market share), Ryanair (8% market share), Israir (6%), Turkish Airlines (6%), United Airlines (6%), WizzAir (4%), Pegasus Airlines (4%), Arkia (4%), EasyJet (3%), and Lufthansa (3%) – noting that Lufthansa Group including Swiss, Austrian, and Brussels Airlines accounts for 6% of passengers traveling. IAA
- New York’s JFK and Newark Airports jointly account for 12% of all passenger traffic at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion, Istanbul’s airports (8%), Paris’ 6%, London’s 5%, Dubai 4% and Kiev 4%. IAA
- Only three of the world’s 5-star airlines, fly to Tel Aviv; Lufthansa, Hainan Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. Skytrax
- Of the three main airline alliances (Star Alliance, Sky Team, and One World), Star Alliance is most dominant in Israel. IAA
