Tourism to Israel drops sharply in May amid missile threats and flight suspensions

ISRAEL - In Brief 10 Jun 2025 by Sani Ziv
Tourism to Israel declined sharply in May, as the number of incoming visitors fell by 25.4% compared to April (seasonally adjusted), reaching only 95,000 arrivals. This figure is 67.4% lower than in May 2023, underscoring the ongoing impact of the war. The decline follows a gradual recovery earlier in the year that was reversed after a Houthi missile struck near Ben Gurion Airport in early May, prompting several international airlines to suspend flights to Israel. Outbound tourism also fell noticeably, with 705,000 Israelis traveling abroad in May—a 10.7% drop from April and 14.7% below May 2023 levels. The decrease reflects both temporary airport disruptions and a sharp rise in flight prices due to reduced airline capacity. The sharp imbalance between inbound and outbound tourism continues to place pressure on the Israeli economy, particularly in sectors reliant on foreign visitors. While most airlines plan to gradually resume regular operations during the summer, airfare prices are expected to remain elevated throughout the June–August period. A more noticeable easing in prices is likely to occur only by the fall.

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