Israelis are traveling big, staying for long periods, and breaking records. The Israeli Tourism Congress New Map revealed impressive data on Israeli tourism, with representatives from leading countries attending the conference to thank Israelis for their loyalty—and to try to attract even more visitors. The conference, led by Terranova and the Israeli Tourism Community, was hosted by Imri Kalmann, CEO of Terranova.
Hungary Breaks Records with One Million Overnight Stays
Vitaliy Izbiszov from the Hungarian Tourism Ministry brought good news: Israelis reached one million overnight stays in the country this year—a record number. But it’s not just about quantity. According to him, Israelis are among the tourists with the longest average stays in the country. In other words: They don’t just arrive, they stay.
Thailand: 400,000 Israelis—and Leading in Days of Stay
Boonyarit Wichianpant, the Thai Ambassador to Israel, reported that 400,000 Israelis visited the country this year. He also emphasized the uniqueness of Israeli tourists: According to him, Israelis lead in the number of days stayed in Thailand by a significant margin compared to other tourists. This means Thailand is not just a favorite destination—Israelis also dedicate time to it.
Azerbaijan: "Israelis Lead Compared to the World"
Mukhtar Mammadov, the Azerbaijani Ambassador, brought a similar message: Israelis lead in tourism to the country compared to the rest of the world, and he predicts that this trend will only strengthen. He did not forget to mention that Azerbaijan Airlines was one of the few companies that continued to operate flights to Israel even during the war—a gesture surely not forgotten by Israelis.
Japan, Thailand, and Azerbaijan—The Preferred Destinations
So, where do Israelis want to travel? Revital Horesh, Digital VP of "Lametayel," presented a recent survey showing that the most preferred destinations are Japan, Thailand, and Azerbaijan. The message is clear: Israelis are seeking exotic, distant, and different destinations.
The conference, which brought together hundreds of tourism professionals, also included a performance by Nas Daily, the Israeli influencer, who spoke about the importance of unity in Israel and the need to present a message of peace to the world. During the conference, a tribute was awarded to Uzi Baram, former Tourism Minister.
Panels were also held with travel agents, artificial intelligence experts, and tourism industry professionals, discussing the revolution that AI is creating in the field and how Israelis plan their trips today. Everything is aimed at 2026, expected to be a record year for Israeli tourism.