The salt of the Holy Land: Israel is waiting for the return of Russian tourists
The sharp escalation of the political situation in the Middle East in recent years has inevitably affected the region's tourism potential. The tourist flow to Israel from Russia has seriously decreased, although it has not been completely interrupted. However, the country's authorities managed to mitigate the risks, reconfigured the security system, developed new programs and launched additional flights, showing that they intend to seriously compete for the return of Russian tourists. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
Back to normal
The first thing that catches your eye as soon as you land in Tel Aviv is the surprisingly measured flow of everyday life. Israelis leisurely walk along the waterfront, play soccer on the beach and surf on the slow Mediterranean waves, sit in restaurants and cafes, curiously look at the creations of modern masters in the art galleries of Jaffa, meticulously choose spices at the Carmel market. There is nothing that reminds of a grueling war. The streets are quiet, except that armed patrols are more common now than before. The situation is the same in Jerusalem, Nazareth, Caesarea, and Eilat.
In short, life returned to normal. The tourism business is gradually returning to it. In 2025, about 1 million 200 thousand travelers from different countries visited Israel, which is 350 thousand more than in 2024 (for comparison, in 2023 there were over 3 million). However, the share of Russians and CIS residents does not exceed 10% of the total number. To work more actively in this key market for the country, at the end of the outgoing year, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism even established a unique position of an adviser on the development of tourism to Israel from the CIS. And the former head of the Russian representative office of the Ministry of Tourism of Israel, Vladimir Shklyar, took it.
On a side note. For Russians, the rules of entry have changed slightly. You still do not need a visa, you can stay in the country for up to 90 days within six months, but now you need to issue an electronic entry permit (ETA-IL) on the website of the Israel Immigration Department in advance. You may also need air tickets, insurance, hotel reservations, and bank documents confirming your ability to pay. Direct flights from Moscow are operated by El-Al and Red Wings airlines. The latter uses a special Tu-214 aircraft, which guarantees timely service.
Water treatments
In winter, Israel relies on health tourism, as the country has accumulated a lot of experience in this area. Traditionally, the Dead Sea remains the main destination here, and Ein Bokek is considered the leading resort area on its shores.
In a relatively small area, there are 18 multi-format hotels for every taste and budget, as well as shopping malls, clinics, restaurants and cafes. For example, the Noga Dead Sea Hotel is suitable for a full–fledged family holiday. It is a good four-star hotel with attentive staff, an extensive spa program, a very high-quality buffet and live music in the fireplace bar.
And those who value privacy and privacy should pay attention to boutique Kayma – with pool villas, designer interiors and an excellent a la carte restaurant.
In addition to hotels, Kibbutz Nahal David has been successfully operating in the Ein Gedi area for a long time, widely known not only for its unique botanical garden, where about a thousand species of subtropical and tropical plants grow, its own line of mineral water and juicy dates, but also for branded cosmetics based on Dead Sea salts. Its spacious spa is located on Tel Goren Hill, offering spectacular views of the Dead Sea on one side and the mountain range on the edge of the Judean Desert on the other. It is definitely worth a look here for the mud wrap procedure and a leisurely rest under the palm trees by the pool with hot sea water.
On a side note. Tel Goren Hill is one of the most important archaeological parks in the Judean Desert. Roman-Byzantine mosaics have been preserved here, as well as fragments of buildings and the water supply system of the ancient city mentioned in the Book of Genesis. In addition, not far from Ein Gedi, at an altitude of 450 meters, there are the ruins of the famous Masada fortress, which today is considered a symbol of the struggle of the Jewish people against the conquerors. The fortress can be reached by cable car. Fragments of the siege wall and military camps of the Roman Tenth Legion, which stormed the last stronghold of the anti-Roman Jewish uprising in 73, are clearly visible from above.
The North wind
Another important resort area with a well–developed infrastructure for health tourism is the vicinity of Lake Galilee in the northern part of the country. The climate here is completely different, much milder and cooler than on the Dead Sea, and there is also a lot of greenery even in winter.
You can have a good rest while admiring the picturesque views of the Galilee from a bird's-eye view at Mizpe Hayamim. The hotel is located in a secluded location on a hillside, close to key historical sites on the one hand, and away from popular hiking trails on the other. All this allows you to combine different types of leisure activities – according to your wishes and needs. The hotel is famous not only for its spa complex, but also for the products of its own organic dairy farm, as well as plantations where organic vegetables and fruits are grown.
For those who prefer to live closer to the water, there is a direct road to Gomeh with access to the beach. The designer hotel with comfortable rooms, a seasonal swimming pool and a high-quality spa center, among other things, offers guests wonderful breakfasts with a wide selection of national and regional dishes (Maghreb, Lebanese, Yemeni).
On a side note. The surroundings of Lake Galilee are filled to the limit with monuments related to the birth of Christianity. Jesus spent his childhood in Nazareth, began his ministry in Capernaum, performed the famous miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes in Tabkha, and preached the Sermon on the Mount on the Mount of Beatitudes. These and many other places sacred to Christians are now easily accessible, and there are churches everywhere, mostly built according to the designs of the outstanding Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi.
Urban joys
However, it would be a big mistake to assume that health tourism is necessarily associated with the Dead Sea or the Sea of Galilee. Comfortable hotels with a full range of spa treatments can be easily found in large cities. Such are, for example, the Royal Beach and Dan in Tel Aviv, the luxurious King David or the quite democratic Mamilla in Jerusalem.
But that's not the only reason they're going there. In Tel Aviv, tourists seek an amazing contrast between the soulful silence of the medieval streets of Jaffa and the indescribable vibe of Rothschild Boulevard, the charmingly provincial everyday life of Neve Tzedek and the overflowing emotionality of parties at Drummers Beach, the special atmosphere of the country's most informal art gallery on Nahalat Binyamin Street and the meditativeness of wonderful sunsets on Taelete.
They go to Jerusalem in order to touch the history described in the holy books, which is several thousand years long. To see with your own eyes the main shrines of different religions – the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Western Wall, the Al-Aqsa Mosque. To stand on the Mount of Olives, walk along Via Dolorosa, put a note with your innermost desire in the gap between the stones polished by millions of palms. And they also come for a miracle, which you subconsciously wait for and which sooner or later will certainly happen.
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