JERUSALEM, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The number of tourists visiting Israel rose by 23.4 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to data issued by the state's Central Bureau of Statistics on Sunday.
Between January and June, 610,900 tourists arrived in the country, up from 494,900 during the same period in 2024.
However, the tourism sector took a sharp hit in June following the recent brief war between Israel and Iran.
Tourist arrivals in June dropped 42.4 percent year-on-year to 55,300, down from 96,000 in the same month of 2024.
The 12-day war led to missile attacks on Israel and the temporary closure of Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, a major gateway for international travelers.
Although tourist numbers recorded a year-on-year rise in the first half of 2025, they remained much lower than the levels before the outbreak of Israel's multi-front conflict in October 2023.
In the first six months of 2023, Israel welcomed 1.97 million visitors. In June 2023 alone, 322,900 tourists arrived in the country. ■
