Nearly six weeks after Israeli soccer fans were lynched by an antisemitic mob in Amsterdam, the Dutch capital is experiencing a significant decline in popularity among Israeli tourists.
According to data from Israeli travel insurance company PassportCard, Amsterdam, which ranked 11th among popular destinations for Israeli travelers during last year’s Christmas season, has dropped to 20th place this year.
Israeli soccer fans were lynched by an antisemitic mob in Amsterdam
“While tens of thousands of Israelis chose Amsterdam for their winter holiday last year, this year less than 1% of Israelis traveling abroad are opting for the Dutch capital,” PassportCard reported.
Thailand has emerged as the top travel destination for Israelis during the final two weeks of 2024, followed by the United States. The United Arab Emirates, which had been less prominent in recent rankings, has climbed to third place as a preferred destination for Israeli travelers.
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Europe, once a favorite among Israelis during this season, has slipped to fourth place overall. Within Europe, Greece is gaining popularity, being perceived as more welcoming to Israeli tourists. Completing the top 10 list are Italy, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, the UK and Germany.
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Israeli soccer fans were lynched by an antisemitic mob in Amsterdam
(Photo: X/iAnnet/via REUTERS)
The impact of antisemitism is evident in the rankings, with France falling out of the top 10 destinations for Israeli travelers this season.
“Safety during travel has become a central factor in choosing vacation destinations, and this is driving major shifts in where Israelis are flying,” said Ronit Segal, CEO of PassportCard. “We are preparing for the busy holiday travel period and strengthening operations to respond in real time to any unexpected events.”