Survey: About half of Israelis flew last year Israel today

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 49 percent of Israelis aged 20 and over visited abroad last year, before the Corona crisis

• Ben Gurion Airport on other days

  Photo: 

  Joshua Joseph - Archive

About half (49%) of Israelis aged 20 and over have traveled abroad in the past year. 24% have traveled once and 25% have traveled twice or more. Women and men have traveled at a similar rate. In the middle ages, 64-45, 53% have traveled abroad.

Among those aged 65 and over - 40% have traveled abroad in the past year.

This is according to data from the Social Survey for 2019: Israelis' Travel Abroad by the Central Bureau of Statistics. It should be noted that these data refer to the period before the Corona crisis.

As part of the social survey, 7,575 people aged 20 and over were interviewed at their home, representing about 7.5 million people of this age.

Among the special survey topics this year was the topic of travel abroad: 54% of travelers in the past year, stayed more than one country. 38% stayed abroad for up to 9 days.

About half, 49%, spent two weeks or more abroad.

The survey also shows that 82 percent of Israelis aged 20 and over have ever traveled abroad. According to the data, men and women flew at a similar rate. This is 86% of Jews and 61% of Arabs.

Two-thirds (67%) of those with an academic certificate have traveled abroad in the past year, compared with 40% of those with lower education. 6.6% of those with an academic certificate and 24% of those without an academic certificate have never traveled abroad.

Among employed persons who earned up to NIS 5,000 gross from work, 45% traveled abroad in the past year. 27% traveled once and the rest, 17%, traveled twice or more. Among employed persons who earned more than NIS 10,000 gross, 74% traveled abroad, 46% have traveled more than once.

The level of income from work is related to the occupation.

73% of managers, 67% of academic professionals and 63% of practical engineers, technicians, agents and related professionals have traveled abroad in the past year. About half (52%) of managers have traveled abroad more than once in the past year.

Among the professional workers in agriculture, construction, industry and other fields - 43% have traveled abroad in the past year. Among the unskilled workers, 27% have traveled abroad.

The most common purpose of travel is for a vacation or a trip (87%), 17% traveled for a family visit, 13% for work and 1.7% for study abroad in the past year. In the last 5 years, 3.6% of those who have flown have studied.

The survey also shows that 13% of those aged 20 and over have considered moving abroad in the past year, for a period of at least 5 years.

Among those aged 20-44, the rate is higher - 19%, compared with 9% among those aged 64-45.

14% of Jews and 11% of Arabs considered moving abroad.