Israel Sees 29% Surge in Tourist Arrivals in July Amid Gradual Recovery

The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics reported a significant 28.6% increase in tourist arrivals to Israel in July 2026 compared to July 2025, with 110,900 visitor entries recorded, including 109,300 tourists and 1,600 day visitors. This marks a positive trend indicating a slow recovery in inbound tourism, heavily reliant on air travel, which faced substantial disruptions earlier in the year.

From January to July 2026, total visitor entries reached 550,600, down from 707,900 in the same period in 2025, reflecting an overall decline despite the recent uptick. The majority of visitors came from the United States (35.5%), followed by France (11.4%), the United Kingdom (7.6%), and Russia (5.1%). Air travel accounted for 537,100 tourist entries, underscoring the sector's dependence on aviation.

The gradual recovery follows the end of Operation "Roaring Lion," which had caused airspace closures and flight cancellations, severely impacting tourism. Between May and July 2026, average monthly entries rose to 76,000 compared to 51,300 in the preceding three months. However, visitor numbers remain significantly below 2025 levels, with a 9.9% decrease in total visitors and an 11% drop in tourists excluding day visitors for the January-July period.

Despite the recent improvements, the tourism industry, which previously contributed nearly $5 billion annually to Israel's economy, has yet to fully rebound from the disruptions earlier this year.