Two weeks after a ceasefire ended a brief war between Israel and Iran, international travel by Israelis is surging, driven by a renewed sense of stability and a strong demand for summer vacations.
The number of overseas trips booked during the first week of Israel’s summer school break doubled compared to the weekly average since the start of the war in October, according to data published by the insurance company PassportCard. The volume also marked a 30% increase compared to the same period last year.
Greece emerged as the top destination, with roughly one in six Israeli travelers heading there. Cyprus and Thailand followed, each accounting for around 8% of outbound travel. Other popular destinations include the United States, Italy, Georgia, Spain, Austria, Germany and Bulgaria.
“With the end of the operation against Iran and the beginning of the summer break, Israelis are signaling a clear return to international travel,” said Ronit Segal, CEO of PassportCard. “We’re seeing the sharpest increase in passenger numbers since the start of the conflict.”
Segal said travel choices are focused on destinations offering frequent flights and a strong sense of safety. She predicted further increases once all international carriers resume full operations in Israel.
Tour operators reported a significant increase in demand following the ceasefire, with many flights filling up quickly. Shirley Cohen-Orekabi, deputy CEO of Eshet Tours, said the mood has shifted. “There’s a growing sense of security among travelers, and the shekel’s strength against the dollar is making vacations more affordable,” she said. “At the same time, supply remains limited. It will take time for all foreign airlines to return.”
According to Eshet Tours, Israelis are favoring short-haul family destinations such as Burgas, Batumi, Greece and Cyprus.
Oren Cohen-Meguri, vice president of marketing and sales at Flying Carpet, said demand is being driven not only by a desire for a break but also by travelers looking to rebook vacations canceled during the conflict. He noted that destinations like the Greek islands and Cyprus continue to dominate the market, aided by strong competition among airlines and advance hotel bookings by travel wholesalers, which help keep prices steady.
Tour operator Ophakim listed Corfu, Mykonos and Kefalonia among the most in-demand destinations for the summer, with August vacation packages averaging $2,800 for a family of four. CEO Revital Ben Natan said the gradual return of international airlines was “the news many Israelis were waiting for.”
“Despite strong demand, prices haven’t declined,” she said. “Many Israelis are booking vacations a year or more in advance, often adding travel insurance. Israeli consumer spending is playing a major role in the aviation sector’s recovery.”
Travel agencies are advising customers to compare prices before booking. Tali Noy, vice president of marketing and strategy at Issta, said direct deals with hotels, suppliers and airlines allow for lower prices than international platforms. “People are used to booking through sites like Booking.com, but that’s no longer always the cheapest option,” she said.
Nir Mazor, vice president at Aviation Links, said demand is peaking, especially for Greek and Cypriot resorts. “Some hotels are already full or nearly full. Anyone planning an August vacation should book immediately,” he said. High demand is also expected around the Jewish holidays in the fall, particularly Sukkot.
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Assaf Greenberg, head of marketing at lastminute.co.il, said July prices remain relatively low, but a steep increase is expected in August. He recommended booking flight-and-hotel packages to save up to 15%.
Hani Sobol, CEO of the Diesenhaus Group, said August is peak season and prices are unlikely to drop, despite the lifting of travel advisories for Israel. Based on company data, the most popular destinations since the ceasefire are Greece, Cyprus, Georgia, Poland and Montenegro — all relatively close to Israel.
Israir has increased the number of flights in August to meet demand, focusing on Athens, Paphos, Larnaca, Rome and Budapest, said Hila Hermolin Ronen, vice president of marketing and sales.