# UK Tourism Market Research Data: Israel

**Publisher:** VisitBritain  
**Published:** n/a  
**Category:** Destinations, NTOs & DMOs  
**Type:** Report  
**Access:** Free  
**Official source:** https://www.visitbritain.org/research-insights/inbound-markets/israel  
**Canonical:** https://tourismintel.ai/reports/uk-tourism-market-research-data-israel

## At a glance
- UK received 180,000 visits from Israel in 2024, generating £182.0 million in total expenditure.
- Average spend per Israeli visitor to UK was £1,012 in 2024, according to International Passenger Survey.
- Direct flight capacity from Israel to UK declined to 57% of 2019 levels by 2025.
- 98% of Israeli visitors travelled to Britain by air in 2024; 100% of direct-flight seats served London.
- Israeli outbound tourism reached 5.6 million visits globally in 2025, ranking 42nd for international spend.

## What the report covers
VisitBritain publishes market research on inbound tourism to the UK from Israel, drawing on International Passenger Survey data collected by the Office for National Statistics. The dataset covers visitor volumes, expenditure, length of stay, trip purpose, seasonality and regional distribution within the UK. 2024 figures are IPS data; 2025 figures include global outbound context and air-route capacity metrics.

## Key findings
The UK attracted 180,000 visits from Israel in 2024, with total visitor expenditure of £182.0 million. This yields an average spend of £1,012 per visit. The source does not provide year-on-year comparison figures, so relative growth or decline cannot be assessed from this brief.

Israeli visitors are almost entirely dependent on air transport, with 98% travelling to Britain by plane in 2024. In 2025, all direct-flight seat capacity (7,997 weekly seats across 37 weekly departures) served London airports. The Tel Aviv–London Heathrow route accounted for 45% of total seat capacity.

Air connectivity has contracted significantly: total weekly seat capacity in 2025 was only 57% of 2019 levels. This indicates reduced frequency or aircraft size on the Israel–UK route, potentially constraining future visitor volumes unless demand recovery outpaces supply.

Globally, Israeli citizens made 5.6 million outbound visits in 2025, with international tourism expenditure of US$8.75 billion, ranking 42nd worldwide for outbound spend. Cyprus is the most-visited European destination for Israeli travellers; Egypt ranks first overall.

## Key numbers
| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Visits from Israel to UK | 180,000 | 2024 observed (IPS) |
| Total expenditure by Israeli visitors in UK | £182.0 million | 2024 observed (IPS) |
| Average spend per Israeli visit to UK | £1,012 | 2024 observed (IPS) |
| Israeli outbound visits globally | 5.6 million | 2025 observed |
| International tourism expenditure, Israeli citizens | US$8.75 billion | 2025 observed |
| Global rank for Israeli outbound spend | 42 | 2025 |
| Weekly aircraft departures, Israel to UK (direct) | 37 | 2025 |
| Weekly seat capacity, Israel to UK direct flights | 7,997 | 2025; 57% of 2019 level |

## Why it matters
**DMOs & destinations** — Israeli visitors represent a mid-tier source market for UK tourism, valued at £182 million annually with relatively high per-capita spend (£1,012). Market recovery depends on air capacity, which remains below pre-pandemic levels. Understanding seasonality, regional spread and trip purpose through VisitBritain's detailed visualisations helps regional tourism strategies.

**Hotels & hospitality** — Israeli guests contribute over £180 million to UK tourism economy. Above-average spend per visit signals potential for premium and extended-stay positioning. However, air-route capacity constraints limit volume growth. Hotels should monitor seat capacity trends and Israel-specific booking patterns to optimise pricing and availability strategies.

**Travel tech & distribution** — The dominance of London routes (100% of direct-seat capacity) and Tel Aviv–Heathrow concentration (45%) highlight distribution bottlenecks. Tech platforms should track flight capacity data and route-specific demand signals. Limited airport diversity reduces competitive distribution options; partnerships with airlines and consolidators serving this market are strategically important.

## Methodology and limits
Data are sourced primarily from the International Passenger Survey (IPS), conducted by the UK Office for National Statistics, supplemented by UNWTO, Oxford Economics and other tourism research partners. The 2024 UK inbound figures derive from IPS interviews; 2025 global outbound data and air-capacity metrics come from transport and tourism authorities. The source note warns that 2024 IPS data are badged as 'official statistics in development' and are subject to future methodological refinement; ONS advises against year-on-year comparisons. Detailed visitor breakdowns (age, gender, trip duration, seasonality, purpose) are available via VisitBritain's interactive visualisations but are not detailed in this public summary.

---
© VisitBritain for the original report. This brief is an original editorial summary by TourismIntel (https://tourismintel.ai). Read the original: https://www.visitbritain.org/research-insights/inbound-markets/israel