In recent years, the Hanukkah holiday offered many Israeli families the perfect opportunity to swap the winter chill for the Dubai sun. Mild December weather, world-class hotels, and family-friendly attractions turned the Emirate into a top holiday getaway. This year, however, the landscape looks vastly different. According to data from the Diesenhaus Group, Hanukkah bookings for Dubai and traditional Western European destinations have plummeted by roughly 30%.
Flight suspensions and rising security concerns
The primary catalyst for the slump in Dubai bookings is clear: A complete absence of direct flights. Low-cost carrier flydubai suspended its Israeli routes at the end of September, and Israeli airlines have not operated flights to the Emirates for several months. Yet, according to Diesenhaus, classic Western European hot spots like Paris and Amsterdam are also seeing sharp declines, driven largely by growing safety concerns among Israeli travelers. The group notes that a destination's perceived level of personal security has become the central decision-making factor for holidaygoers this year.
In place of these former favorites, Diesenhaus highlights three leading alternatives gaining traction among Israeli vacationers. Budapest entices travelers with its crisp winter atmosphere, festive Christmas markets, and thermal baths. Athens provides relatively mild weather alongside a rich culinary scene, shopping, and urban highlights. Meanwhile, Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, attracts families with its striking modern architecture, vibrant entertainment centers, and diverse array of attractions.
"What is particularly interesting is that Israelis aren't necessarily looking for an identical replacement for the destination they gave up," says Omer Chodorov Levi, VP of Marketing and Social Responsibility at Diesenhaus Group. "A family that planned a sunny vacation might choose a winter city break instead, discovering a completely different experience." She adds that because Hanukkah coincides directly with the launch of Europe's Christmas market season this year, it offers travelers a unique seasonal window.
Preferring nearby, accessible destinations
Other industry players are tracking identical shifts in consumer behavior. Flying Carpet reports an approximate 30% jump in bookings for Prague and Budapest over the Christmas period compared to the previous year. "These are nearby, accessible destinations offering a European Christmas experience at attractive prices," says Oren Cohen Meguri, the company's VP of Marketing and Sales. "They are Israeli-friendly destinations where travelers feel safer - a factor becoming increasingly central when selecting a destination." The agency also points to rising interest in short, two-night getaways that combine urban sightseeing with November shopping sales.
Just how affordable is Prague? Yehuda Sharoni, economic reporter for Maariv, visited the Czech capital earlier this summer and returned impressed by both the local hospitality and the low cost of living. A meal at a local Thai restaurant - consisting of two main courses, side dishes, and drinks - cost him just NIS 65. Supermarket food prices, he notes, run about 30% lower than in Israel, while public transport passes cost 39 CZK (roughly NIS 6) for a metro or bus ride. "Prices in Prague are lower across almost all categories compared to Israeli prices," he wrote.
Ophir Tours reports a similar surge in demand for Central and Eastern European hotspots, including Prague, Budapest, and Bulgaria. "Alongside price, feeling welcomed at the destination is a significant factor for the Israeli traveler," says Yoni Waxman, Deputy Chairman of the company. "Regarding Dubai, we are indeed seeing fewer bookings due to suspended direct flights by flydubai and Israeli carriers, alongside uncertainty surrounding when they will resume."
High demand for Central and Eastern Europe
Nir Mazor, VP at aviation-links, highlights an even sharper decline for Dubai - estimating a 50% drop in bookings - though he notes that demand for Western Europe has held relatively steady in their data. "The current drop stems primarily from aviation sector uncertainty, reduced flight supply, and hesitancy among some vacationers," he says. "It is one of the destinations that lost a significant portion of its appeal among the Israeli public this year."