If six years ago, only 71,672 Israeli tourists reached Romania in a year, in 2016 their number rose to 251,908 people, compared to 219,307 the previous year, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics. Thus, tourists from Israel currently account for over 10% of the total number of foreigners who visited Romania last year.
In the overall ranking, Israel ranks 2nd, after Germany – 281,704 tourists. In third place is Italy – 233,787 tourists and France – 145,584 tourists.
Through the tour operator Meshek Wings, over 40,000 tourists came last year, either by charter or scheduled flights.
Meidan Butnaru, the director of Meshek, stated that many tourism companies in Israel have offers for Romania and are fighting on prices, and this war has generated price drops in Israel for flights to Romania, making vacations more accessible. Compared to previous years, a ticket to Romania has decreased by 50-60 USD.
Tens of thousands of business people from Israel come and stay overnight in Romanian cities annually. The mountain area attracted 28,880 tourists from Israel last year, compared to 8,232 in the previous year, 3,090 people came to spa resorts, compared to 6,116 a year ago, and 4,318 people reached the seaside, compared to 1,169 in 2015.
The Prahova Valley area and everything related to the mountains attract tourists – families with children and young people, but also Oradea and other cities. They prefer 4-star hotels with half-board in Romania.
Young Israelis come for city breaks in Bucharest or Constanta, but also look for mountain trips, while families with children prefer the sea and mountain resorts.
Source: Profit
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the number of Israeli tourists in Romania increased?
The growth is largely driven by intense competition among Israeli travel agencies, which has lowered flight prices by $50-60, making Romania a more affordable destination.
Which Romanian regions are most popular among Israeli visitors?
Israeli tourists are particularly drawn to the Prahova Valley and mountain resorts, as well as cities like Bucharest, Oradea, and Constanta for city breaks.
What are the accommodation preferences for Israeli travelers?
Most Israeli tourists prefer 4-star hotels offering half-board services, catering to both business travelers and families with children.