Israel Sees Exodus of Citizens Abroad While Tourist Numbers Lag

New data from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics reveals a significant disparity in travel patterns, with millions of Israelis departing the country while inbound tourism remains subdued. In August, 1.41 million Israelis traveled abroad, contributing to over 6 million departures in the first eight months of the year. This surge in outbound Israeli travel contrasts sharply with the slower recovery of international tourism to Israel.

Inbound tourism figures for August show 117,600 visitors, a slight decrease from 119,600 in August of the previous year. The year-to-date total for January-August stands at 668,200 visitors, down from 827,500 during the same period last year. The primary source countries for these visitors remain the United States, followed by France, the United Kingdom, and Russia, highlighting the continued importance of the American market.

Despite the overall low numbers, there are signs of a nascent recovery in air travel. Data indicates a notable increase in monthly average tourist arrivals by air during June-August compared to the preceding three months. This suggests a gradual return of tourists, although it has not yet fully translated into the overall visitor statistics.

Concurrently, Israelis have largely resumed their pre-pandemic travel habits. Average monthly outbound air travel for Israelis between June and August reached 790,300 departures, a substantial increase from the 331,400 average in the prior three months. This indicates that while inbound tourism is still finding its footing, Israelis have significantly returned to their international travel routines.

The statistics also noted that 70,600 of the 1.41 million Israeli departures in August were by "Israeli emigrants" returning for visits. The Central Bureau of Statistics has updated its calculation methods for this demographic to allow for better year-on-year comparisons.