In 2021, the number of foreign tourists visiting Israel amounted to 396.5 thousand, a significant decrease compared to the previous year. In 2020 and 2021, the volume of international tourism in Israel has declined remarkably. This was due to tighter restrictions imposed on the country's tourism industry following the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in March 2020. However, the Israeli authorities lifted most of the restrictions in 2022. According to estimates, the
Impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
As in several countries worldwide, COVID-19 restrictions have significantly affected the tourism industry in Israel, including the hotel industry. In 2021, the
number of foreign guests in tourist hotels in Israel declined sharply to 277.4 thousand, after it peaked in 2019 before the pandemic. However, both the
number of Israeli guests in tourist hotels and the
total revenue of the hotel sector increased in 2020. Many Israelis stayed in hotels in the country because the government did not impose severe restrictions on domestic tourism.
Economic contribution of the tourism industry
In recent years, the economic importance of tourism in Israel has been increasing. Projections showed that the
total financial contribution of tourism will likely rise to nearly 30 million U.S. dollars in 2025, a new peak. In 2013, Israel signed an open skies agreement with the EU. This helped promote inbound and outbound tourism since new European airlines started operating in Israeli airports. Despite the noteworthy increment in tourism from Europe, in 2021, the
number of tourists from the United States was the highest of all countries, with 149.1 thousand American visitors in Israel that year.
Diverse tourist sights
Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa are famous tourist destinations in Israel. However, natural and historical sites in the country also attract high numbers of tourists. In 2021, the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority recorded over 2.54 million
visits to historical sites in Israel. Some well-known historical sites are Masada and Caesarea. In addition, the
number of visits to recreation sites in Israel rose as well and reached more than 6.64 million in the same year.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no
liability for the information given being complete or correct.
Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
data than referenced in the text.
