Global perceptions of Israel reshape Israelis’ holiday travel trends

As the holiday season approaches and many Israelis will be traveling abroad, the effects of the war and rising antisemitism have resulted in some countries changing their attitudes of hospitality to tourists looking for winter vacation spots.

Thailand, which offers 60 days of a visa-free stay, has become the number one destination for Israelis on a list of top 10, with Hungary coming close behind it in second place.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand in Israel reported a total of 281,000 Israelis tourists to the southeast Asian country in 2024, with this year’s numbers expected to reach past 300,000.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s strong pro-Israel stance throughout the war has made it the second most hospitable vacation spot. Orbán hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year and declared he would not enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants against the Israeli leader or former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

However, some Western European countries like France, which is usually a popular destination for Israelis seeking ski-resorts and the Paris Christmas markets, have fallen in rank, from fourth to eighth. 

Since the Abraham Accords in 2020, the United Arab Emirates has maintained strong economic ties with Israel. However, some Arab states have expressed frustration with Israel over how it has handled the war in Gaza, causing Israel to slide from the previous number-one destination to fifth place this year.

Both the United States and the Czech Republic have consistently voted in support of Israel at the UN throughout the war, and remain preferable choices for Israeli holiday travel, ranking third and fourth respectively.

Germany and Spain are absent from this year’s list entirely. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s outspoken anti-Israel stance prior to the war has made it an unfavorable destination for Israeli travelers.

Austria, ranking sixth, and Italy, ranking seventh, remain popular vacation spots and ski destinations, despite a recent increase in hostility toward Israelis in both countries.

Completing the Top 10 are Argentina and Greece, both of whom have expressed interest in advancing strategic partnerships with Israel in the areas of military defense against regional threats.

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