The coming winter is expected to break records in the number of Israelis flying abroad — while also showing a major shift in the map of popular destinations.
According to a ranking by insurance company PassportCard, the number of Israelis planning flights overseas in the coming months will be 20% higher than the peak recorded in winter 2022, before the war and after the COVID‑19 pandemic.
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The famous Széchenyi Baths in the Hungarian capital
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“Eastern Europe is strengthening and Western Europe is weakening,” the report’s authors wrote. “Our index data shows that this winter there is a sharp increase in trips to Eastern European destinations, led by Hungary, which jumps to second place, right after Thailand. Other Eastern European countries that stand out this year are Romania, Czechia and Poland.
“On the other hand, there has been a drop in travel to Western European countries, where waves of pro‑Palestinian demonstrations have increased: France recorded a significant decline, and the UK, which before the war was among the five leading countries, continues its downward trend. After being pushed out from the top 10 popular destinations in winter 2024, this year, it is not even among the top 15. Greece and Cyprus, which have traditionally headed the table, are ranked lower in winter 2025/6, due to being less attractive in the winter season.”
Alongside the increase in total travelers, there is also a rise in the length of vacations abroad: flights longer than 21 days have doubled compared with winter 2022. A noticeable change is also seen in the proportion of young travelers (under 30 years old), with a jump of over 30% versus the pre‑war period. The rise in young travelers influences the map of attractive destinations — this year, Argentina, a favorite among Israeli backpackers, has climbed to 9th place, compared with just 15th place the previous year.
“In recent weeks, we have identified an extraordinary momentum in outbound travel, with volumes we have not seen since 2022," PassportCard CEO Ronit Segal said. "The increase in the number of flyers, together with the return of international airlines to full operation from Israel, places the current winter as record‑breaking. At the same time, it is clear that Israelis’ preferences are changing: Eastern Europe is strengthening significantly at the expense of Western Europe, and many soldiers finishing their military service are bringing South America back to the forefront.”