Tourist flow from Russia to Israel increased by 56% in January

Russian tourist flow to Israel in January shows impressive growth. Compared to other foreign holidaymakers, the Russians more often return to Israel. In 2019, the Russian audience had even more reasons to come to this country. 

The first month of 2019 turned out to be successful for Israeli incoming tourism: the country hosted 321 thousand foreign tourists, which is 15% more than in January last year. Israel is already ahead the schedule of the record 2018, when more than 4 million foreign tourists visited the country. Recall that in 2018 381 thousand citizens of the Russian Federation visited Israel (-4% compared to 2017), but 2019 promises to be better. The Russian tourist flow in January 2019 showed excellent dynamics, more than three times faster than the general growth: 35,600 citizens of the Russian Federation, which is 56% more than a year earlier. 

As Sofia Kosharovskaya, the Director of Public Relations of the Russian Department of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, told in the Russian tourist flow to Israel the proportion of travelers from the capital region amounts 42%. On the second line is Petersburg’s region (16%).  

According to the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, Israel is in steady demand on the Russian market due to wide offers of beach holidays, rehabilitation at the Dead Sea and sightseeing tours. Visa- Visa Free regime and the absence of a language barrier are increasing the number of Russian tourists. 

Sofia Kosharovskaya emphasized that Israel is doing a lot of work on the Russian market. So, only last year 4 million Euros were spent on advertising. Today, the Israeli Tourism Ministry compensates Russian tour operators for up to 40% of the cost of promotion, as well as pays subsidies for arranging flights to Tel Aviv and Eilat resort on the Red Sea. 

“Tour operators receive 60 Euros for each Russian tourist to be sent to Eilat. Today the Russian market is the leader in Eilat. The share of tourists from the Russian Federation is 27%,” said the representative of Israeli tourism. 

In 2019 Israel hopes to increase the flow of tourists from Russia. Among the factors contributing to this is the opening of the new Ramon airport in Eilat, as well as the Eurovision song contest in May, where many Russian tourists are expected to arrive.