"Israel's" tourists decline to 885k in 2024 from 2.95M in 2023

The number of foreign tourists visiting "Israel" in 2024 has dropped by 68.1 percent compared to 2023, according to a report from "Israel's" Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) published on Monday.

Visitor numbers fell to 885,000 in the first 11 months of 2024, with expectations to reach around 952,000 by year-end. This significant decline contrasts with the all-time high of 4.55 million visitors in 2019.

In comparison, "Israel" welcomed 2.95 million visitors during the first 11 months of 2023, with the total for the entire year nearing 3 million, based on official data.

A report published by the "Israeli" economic website Globes, based on data from Coface BDI, reveals that approximately 60,000 small and medium-sized enterprises have closed this year. This marks a 50 percent increase compared to the typical annual closure rate of about 40,000 companies.

The report notes that tourism was one of the sectors hardest hit by the ongoing "Israeli" war on Gaza, with many tourism-related businesses being forced to shut down as a result.

Other sectors, including construction and agriculture, were also significantly affected. Around 700 to 750 construction and infrastructure companies closed in 2024, a more than 10 percent increase compared to 2023. The agriculture sector also faced hardships, primarily due to security restrictions on border areas and labor shortages.

- Timeline of tourism in "Israel": The past decade -

Tourism in "Israel" has experienced notable fluctuations over the past decade. Below is an overview of the sector's performance each year based on data from the CBS:

Graph representing "Israel's" tourism over the past 10 years.

2014: "Israel" had approximately 2.92 million tourists.

2015: The number of tourists dropped to 2.8 million, reflecting a 13 percent decrease compared to the previous year. This decline was attributed to security concerns and political tensions in the region.

2016: The sector saw a slight recovery, with the number of tourists increasing to 2.9 million, signaling a relative improvement in visitor confidence as tensions in the West Bank and Gaza eased.

2017: Tourism surged significantly to 3.61 million, driven by international tourism promotion efforts and improved security conditions. This was the year "Israel" launched several international programs to attract more visitors.

2018: Growth continued, with 4.12 million visitors, a record-high that reflected "Israel's" appeal as a tourist destination in the Middle East, particularly due to stability in the West Bank and Gaza.

2019: The number of tourists peaked at 4.55 million, generating USD 8.46 billion for the "Israeli" economy, according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Tourism.

2020: The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted tourism, with only 831,500 visitors, resulting in significant economic losses.

2021: The decline continued, with 396,500 tourists due to ongoing global health restrictions and the closure of most airports worldwide.

2022: The sector saw a notable recovery, with the number of tourists rising to 2.67 million as restrictions eased, vaccinations increased, and tourism activity resumed.

2023: "Israel" had approximately 3 million visitors, contributing USD 4.85 billion to the economy. However, the final quarter of the year suffered a sharp downturn due to the war on Gaza.

2024: The sector experienced a steep decline, with only 885,000 visitors during the first 11 months of the year, due to the ongoing war in Gaza and escalating tensions with Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq.