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Israel, located in the Southern Levant region of West Asia, is experiencing a tourism surge with the introduction of visa-free travel to 187 countries as of latest August 2024 update, including France, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. This strategic move opens new opportunities for international travelers to explore Israel’s rich cultural heritage, historic sites, and vibrant cities without visa hassles. Consequently, Israel is becoming an increasingly attractive destination, enhancing connectivity and boosting its global tourism appeal.

Israel has seen a remarkable surge in cruise tourism, with its ports increasingly catering to more visitors. As a top destination, Israel offers ancient history, diverse cultures, and stunning coastal landscapes. With access to 170 destinations and 69.19% of cruise passengers ranking it as a must-visit, key ports like Ashdod, Haifa, and Tel Aviv accommodate a significant influx of tourists, contributing to 0.52% of global cruise traffic. Combined itineraries with Egypt further enhance its appeal, solidifying Israel’s position as a premier hub in the Mediterranean cruise circuit, with 75% of visitors arriving by sea.

TTW Editor Mr. Anup Kumar Keshan says: “Israel’s tourism is booming with visa-free travel to 187 countries as of August 2024, boosting outbound travel significantly. The surge in cruise tourism, especially through ports like Ashdod, Haifa, and Tel Aviv, adds to this trend. Combined itineraries with Egypt further enhance its appeal, solidifying Israel as a premier Mediterranean destination.”

The most popular destinations for Israeli travelers include:

• Turkey
• The United States
• Egypt
• Spain
• Austria

Surge in Israeli Outbound Travel: Three Million Departures Recorded in Early 2024
In the first half of 2024 (January – June), approximately three million outbound departures were recorded from Israel, reflecting a robust interest in international travel among Israeli citizens. The majority of these departures, around 2.7 million, were by air, indicating the popularity and convenience of air travel for reaching various global destinations. Land travel accounted for about 319,500 departures, likely involving neighboring countries, while sea travel made up 17,800 departures, suggesting interest in cruise vacations or sea routes.

Israel’s Outbound Travel Spending Reaches 52,500.24 Crores USD in 2022, Highlighting Significant

Economic Impact

In 2022, Israel’s outbound travel spending reached an impressive 52,500.24 crores USD. This substantial figure underscores the significant economic impact of international tourism and travel on the country’s economy. The spending covers a wide range of travel expenses, including airfare, accommodations, dining, shopping, and other activities enjoyed by Israeli travelers abroad. This high level of expenditure reflects the growing trend of Israelis exploring international destinations, indulging in diverse experiences, and contributing to the global tourism economy.

Expansive lists of Visa-Free Travel:

Visa-Free Travel

• Albania
• Andorra
• Angola
• Anguilla
• Argentina
• Aruba
• Austria
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Cayman Islands
• Central African Republic
• Chile
• Colombia
• Cook Islands
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Curacao
• Cyprus
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• eSwatini
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• French Guiana
• French Polynesia
• French West Indies
• Georgia
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Greenland
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Hong Kong (SAR China)
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Kiribati
• Kosovo
• Latvia
• Lesotho
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macao (SAR China)
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Malta
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Mayotte
• Mexico
• Micronesia
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Montserrat
• Mozambique
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• Nicaragua
• Niue
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Palau Islands
• Palestinian Territory
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Puerto Rico
• Reunion
• Romania
• Russian Federation
• San Marino
• Senegal
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Maarten
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Suriname
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
• Thailand
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Türkiye
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Vatican City

VOA

• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Burundi
• Cambodia
• Cape Verde Islands
• Comoro Islands
• Djibouti
• Ethiopia
• Guinea-Bissau
• Jordan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Maldives
• Marshall Islands
• Myanmar
• Namibia
• Nauru
• Nepal
• Papua New Guinea
• Rwanda
• Samoa
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• Somalia
• South Africa
• St. Helena
• Tajikistan
• Tanzania
• Timor-Leste
• Tuvalu
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

ETA

• American Samoa
• Canada
• Guam
• Kenya
• New Zealand
• Northern Mariana Islands
• South Korea
• Sri Lanka
• United States
• US Virgin Islands

Airports in Israel:

• Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel’s primary international gateway, is the busiest airport in the nation, handling the majority of the country’s air travel. Situated near Lod, it serves millions of passengers annually, acting as a crucial hub for both domestic and international journeys. With its consistent growth in passenger numbers, Ben Gurion reflects Israel’s expanding tourism and business sectors, reinforcing its status as a vital transportation center.
• Haifa Airport (HFA), located in northern Israel, is a vital regional hub, connecting the city with domestic and select international destinations. With recent infrastructure improvements, the airport has experienced a steady increase in passenger traffic, now handling approximately 100,000 passengers annually.
• Ovda Airport (VDA), situated in the southern Negev desert, is instrumental in bringing international tourists to Israel. It handles around 500,000 passengers annually, experiencing significant seasonal traffic spikes during the winter months when visitors flock to the region’s warm climate.
• Eilat Airport (ETH) serves as a key domestic gateway for travelers heading to the popular resort city of Eilat. It processes approximately 1 million passengers annually, making it an essential component of Israel’s tourism infrastructure.
• Bar Yehuda Airfield (MTZ), near the historic site of Masada, primarily caters to private and charter flights. Despite its smaller scale, it provides a unique and scenic entry point for tourists visiting the Dead Sea region, handling about 20,000 passengers annually.
• Sde Dov Airport (SDV), once a critical domestic hub in Tel Aviv, handled approximately 1.5 million passengers annually before its closure in 2019. The airport was integral in managing passenger traffic within Israel, connecting the country’s major cities.

Surge in Air Travel: Israeli Airlines See Significant Passenger Increase

In a remarkable surge of air travel activity, Israeli airlines have reported a significant increase in passenger numbers this month. Israeli airlines carried 491,645 passengers, making up 27.57% of all travelers passing through Ben Gurion Airport, a 141.67% increase from last December. The airlines contributing most to this increase were EL AL Israel Airlines, Wizzair, and Ryanair. Dubai was the top destination with 115,758 passengers, up 113.27% from the previous December. Turkey had the highest volume of activity with 187,054 passengers, constituting 10.49% of all activity. The countries contributing most to the passenger traffic increase were Turkey, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates.

Airlines in Israel:

• Arkia Israel Airlines
  Arkia, based at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), serves 19 destinations across 12 countries. With approximately 150,000 outbound passengers monthly, it’s a significant player in Israel’s aviation sector.
• EL AL Israel Airlines
  As Israel’s flag carrier, EL AL operates from Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). Handling about 400,000 outbound passengers monthly, it’s a major force in the global airline industry.
• Israir
  Israir, another key player based at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), offers domestic and international flights. The airline transports around 100,000 outbound passengers each month.
• Air Haifa
  Air Haifa is a regional airline operating from Haifa Airport (HFA). Focusing on regional and charter flights, it serves approximately 10,000 outbound passengers monthly.
• Ayit Aviation
  Ayit Aviation, a domestic carrier, primarily serves domestic routes within Israel. With around 5,000 outbound passengers monthly, it caters to specific market segments.

Cruises in Israel

Israel has seen a remarkable surge in cruise tourism, attracting visitors from around the globe to its historic and vibrant ports. With a rich blend of ancient history, diverse culture, and stunning coastal landscapes, Israel’s cruise destinations offer unique experiences for all types of travelers. From the bustling city life of Tel Aviv to the sacred sites of Jerusalem and the scenic beauty of Haifa, each port provides a gateway to explore the country’s many attractions. Additionally, combined itineraries with neighboring Egypt further enhance the appeal, making Israel a significant hub in the Mediterranean cruise circuit.

• Israel’s Cruise Tourism
  Israel has experienced a surge in cruise tourism, with several ports catering to the increasing number of visitors.
• Jerusalem (Ashdod) Cruises
  While Jerusalem itself is inland, the closest cruise port is Ashdod. This port serves as a gateway to the holy city, attracting religious pilgrims and history enthusiasts. Ashdod typically handles around 300,000 cruise passengers annually.
• Haifa Cruises
  Haifa, a vibrant coastal city, is a popular cruise destination offering a blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. With its strategic location, Haifa port accommodates a significant number of cruise ships, welcoming approximately 350,000 cruise passengers per year.
• Tel Aviv (Haifa) Cruises
  Tel Aviv, Israel’s bustling metropolis, shares its cruise port with Haifa. Many cruise itineraries include both cities, allowing passengers to experience the contrast between modern urban life and historical sites. Combined, Tel Aviv and Haifa receive around 400,000 cruise passengers annually.

Israel and Egypt Cruises
Several cruise lines offer itineraries combining Israel and Egypt. These cruises typically depart from or visit ports in both countries, such as Haifa in Israel and Alexandria in Egypt. The exact passenger numbers for these combined cruises can fluctuate, but they contribute significantly to the overall cruise tourism in the region.

Israel has seen a remarkable surge in cruise tourism, attracting visitors from around the globe to its historic and vibrant ports. With a rich blend of ancient history, diverse culture, and stunning coastal landscapes, Israel’s cruise destinations offer unique experiences for all types of travelers. From the bustling city life of Tel Aviv to the sacred sites of Jerusalem and the scenic beauty of Haifa, each port provides a gateway to explore the country’s many attractions.