Incoming Tourism to Israel Plummets 75% in First Half of 2026 Compared to Pre-War Levels

Israel's incoming tourism has suffered a severe decline in the first half of 2026, with hotel overnight stays dropping to approximately 1.29 million, down 75% from about 5 million in the same period of 2023 before the outbreak of war. This sharp decrease follows the second round of conflict with Iran in March 2026, known as Operation Roaring Lion, which led to the suspension of flights to Israel and a halt in tourist arrivals. The Israel Hoteliers Association reported these figures, highlighting that the first half of 2026 is shaping up as a lost semester for the tourism sector.

Compared to the first half of 2025, which included Operation Lion's Den in June, there was a smaller 5% decline in tourist overnight stays (from 1.35 million to 1.29 million). However, the numbers remain higher than the 971,000 overnight stays recorded during the 2024 peak of the Iron Swords war. Israeli domestic tourism also declined by about 9% in the first half of 2026 compared to 2025, totaling 7.2 million overnight stays, though it increased by 6% compared to 2023, indicating more Israelis vacationing locally amid reduced international travel options and ongoing security concerns.

Regionally, Herzliya was the only city to see an increase in hotel occupancy in early 2026 compared to 2025, reaching 70% occupancy. Other popular destinations like Eilat and the Dead Sea recorded 66% and 48% occupancy respectively. Conversely, cities such as Netanya, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Tiberias, Jerusalem, and Nazareth experienced significantly lower occupancy rates, with Nazareth at a minimal 19%. The national average hotel occupancy rate fell to 44% in the first half of 2026, down from 50% in 2025 and over 60% in 2023 and 2024.

The Hoteliers Association, led by CEO Hagar Sharan, emphasized that inbound tourism has nearly vanished since October 7, 2023, severely impacting hotels, especially those reliant on foreign tourists. Domestic tourism has not compensated for this loss. The association expressed hope for government assistance to help the industry survive this challenging period.