Thousands of tourists have left Israel since the start of the war

Since the beginning of the military confrontation, approximately 16,000 foreign visitors have already left Israel. At the same time, tens of thousands of tourists remain in the country, while the Ministry of Tourism is working to organize their departure and simultaneously assist affected Israelis.

Israel Today Staff

Mar 11, 2026 at 8:36 am

| Topics: Israel

According to the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, around 37,000 tourists were in the country at the start of the operation. Since then, roughly 16,000 of them have departed, while approximately 2,500 have newly entered despite the security situation. Currently, about 21,500 foreign visitors remain in Israel.

The situation was complicated by the fact that Israel’s airspace was temporarily closed at the beginning of the conflict. As a result, many tourists had to use alternative routes to leave the country.

Departure via Egypt and limited flights

During the airspace closure, the Ministry of Tourism organized a special transport service to the Taba border crossing on the border with Egypt. Hundreds of travelers took advantage of this option to leave the country by land.

After Israel’s airspace was partially reopened, this special transport service was discontinued. Tourists can now depart via limited international flights.

Despite the tense security situation, some visitors continue to enter Israel. According to the ministry, around 2,500 tourists have newly arrived in the country since the start of the operation.

Ministry also supports evacuees

In parallel with assisting tourists, the Ministry of Tourism is also helping Israelis whose homes were damaged by Iranian missiles. More than 2,300 people have been accommodated in hotels across the country after their apartments became uninhabitable.

The Director General of the Ministry, Michael Izhakov, visited several of these hotels and described it as a complex national task. “In addition to our responsibility to help citizens whose homes were damaged, we also feel obligated to the tens of thousands of tourists who are in Israel during this difficult time,” he explained.

While the war continues and rocket alerts are repeatedly triggered, the government is attempting to ensure the safety of visitors and enable their orderly departure, while at the same time providing accommodation for displaced Israelis.

Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates