Israel registered 110,900 visitor arrivals in July 2026, including 109,300 tourists and 1,600 day visitors, a 28.6% increase from July 2025 when arrivals totaled approximately 86,000. This growth marks a gradual improvement in the tourism sector.
From January through July 2026, the country recorded 611,300 visitor arrivals, representing a 13.6% decline compared to 707,900 arrivals in the same period of 2025. Compared with January-July 2024, visitor arrivals decreased 22.2%. Tourist arrivals during these seven months numbered 603,200, down 11% from the previous year.
Visitor Nationalities Breakdown
In the first seven months of 2026, 35.5% of arrivals originated from the United States. Visitors from
France constituted 11.4%, the United Kingdom accounted for 7.6%, and Russia contributed 5.1% of total arrivals.
Dependence on Air Travel
Air travel remains the dominant mode of entry for tourists, with 537,100 inbound air arrivals from January to July 2026. This reliance on international aviation makes the tourism industry susceptible to disruptions in air connectivity.
Impact of Operation “Roaring Lion”
The Israeli airspace closure and flight cancellations during Operation “Roaring Lion” caused severe interruptions to inbound tourism. The operation’s end prompted a rebound in visitor numbers but did not restore arrivals to pre-interruption levels.
Post-Operation Arrival Trends
Between May and July 2026, average monthly visitor arrivals rose to about 76,000, up from
an average of 51,300 monthly arrivals from February through April 2026. Despite this improvement, tourism numbers remain below those seen before the disruptions of Operation “Roaring Lion.”
