Regional tourism rises as Israeli arrivals in Greece and Bulgarian travel increase

Tourism data indicates significant movement within the Balkan and Mediterranean regions. In Greece, traffic from Israel has seen a substantial increase. At the 14 regional airports managed by Fraport Greece, passenger movements from Israel rose by 28.5% during the seven-month period from January to July 2026 compared to the previous year. Projections suggest that total Israeli arrivals in 2026 could reach between 850,000 and 900,000, potentially setting a new historical record.

In Bulgaria, residents made over 1 million trips abroad in July 2026, a 3.1% increase compared to July 2025. According to the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria, holiday and leisure travel rose by 4.2%. Greece emerged as the top destination for Bulgarian travelers in July, with 263,900 visitors, followed by Turkey with 261,200.