The impact of the war on Israel's tourism sector

In depth

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, visitors' spending from abroad in the first half of 2026 totaled about $1.32 billion, a decline of about 57% compared with the same period in 2023. According to Bizportal, revenue losses in this half-year stand at $1.76 billion.

According to Calcalist, the number of tourist overnight stays in hotels rose by about 19% in the first nine months of 2026, but total overnight stays in hotels across Israel fell by 4.4% to 15.1 million. The national hotel occupancy rate stood at 50.2%, compared with 64% in the same period in 2023.

According to Bizportal, a recovery in the number of arrivals appeared in the summer months, but the gap relative to the strong years remains wide. The damage extends to restaurants, transportation, tour guides and small businesses. According to Ice, holiday prices in Israel are once again soaring.