Israel Sees Rise in Tourist Arrivals, But Hotel Industry Warns of Continued Crisis
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Israel welcomed 152,400 visitors in October 2026, a figure that shows a growing trend in tourism, particularly by air. However, the Hotel and Tourism Association warns that the hotel industry has not yet recovered from the impact of the war. The association is calling for a comprehensive five-year plan from the Ministry of Tourism to support the sector's recovery and growth.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel saw 152,400 visitor entries in October 2026, with tourists making up the vast majority.
- Average monthly tourist arrivals by air increased by 2.3% from August-October 2026.
- US citizens formed the largest group of visitors, accounting for 34.4% of entries.
- 87,200 Israeli expatriates returned for "visits home" in October 2026.
- The Hotel and Tourism Association warns the hotel industry is still in crisis.
- The association is requesting a five-year recovery plan from the Ministry of Tourism.
Israel experienced a significant increase in tourist arrivals in October 2026, with 152,400 visitors entering the country. Of these, 150,100 were tourists and 2,300 were day visitors. From January to October 2026, a total of 957,800 visitors entered Israel. Visitors from the United States constituted the largest group at 34.4%, followed by France at 12.6%, the United Kingdom at 8.2%, and Russia at 4.8%.
Analysis of air travel data reveals a notable trend: the average monthly tourist entries from August to October 2026 reached 119,400, a substantial rise from the 76,300 average monthly entries recorded in the preceding three months (May-July 2026). This recent period saw a monthly growth of 2.3%, contrasting with a 1.1% monthly decline in the earlier period.
In addition to tourists, 87,200 Israeli expatriates returned for "visits home" in October 2026. However, the Hotel and Tourism Association, part of the Trade and Industry Associations, cautioned that this increase in arrivals does not signify a full recovery for the hotel sector. Many hotels, particularly independent and smaller establishments, are still grappling with revenue losses and rising operational costs since the outbreak of the war.
The association is urging the Ministry of Tourism to collaborate with industry representatives to develop a five-year plan for rehabilitation and growth. This plan should include financial support, the removal of barriers, and initiatives to further encourage inbound tourism. They highlighted that hotels cannot be expected to lead tourism recovery while facing the crisis alone, citing examples like a potential 30% property tax increase for hotels in Tiberias amidst their struggle for survival.