Africa Israel and Fattal Report Occupancy Gains as Returnees Arrive for Vote

Hotel operators in Israel report higher occupancy rates this week as an estimated 70,000 residents living abroad return to the country ahead of Tuesday's Knesset elections. The surge in travelers coincides with the election period, which falls in late October. While the total number of returnees remains an estimate, the influx is visible in booking data from major hotel chains.

In the 2022 election, a party needed approximately 36,000 votes to secure a single Knesset seat. Analysts suggest that threshold could rise to between 38,000 and 39,000 votes this year due to population growth and higher expected turnout. If the race between political blocs is tight, the votes from these 70,000 returnees could affect the final seat distribution. Projections indicate that even if 60% of these voters supported the change bloc, the gain would amount to one to one and a half seats.

Africa Israel Hotels, a major chain in the country, recorded a 23% increase in occupancy during election week compared to October of last year. Alex Eliyahu, the chain's marketing director, noted that many Israelis are combining their civic duties with leisure travel. He stated that more residents are choosing to pair exercising their democratic right with a short vacation.

Fattal Hotels also experienced a rise in bookings, particularly in central Israel. Maya Shalev, the company's vice president of marketing and sales, attributed the increase to the election timing. The chain is currently offering discounts of up to 30%, with an additional 10% reduction for members of its loyalty program, for stays between October 25 and 29. Shalev said that bookings from abroad for these specific dates suggest many travelers are coming to vote.

Many of the arriving voters participated in a large rally at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday night. Judy, a resident of Miami who has lived in the United States for more than 50 years, said she flew in specifically to vote and will return in early November. She noted that while many Israelis in Miami and Los Angeles tend to vote for the Right, she and others in her community are different. Ofer, who traveled from New York, said his family will return the day after the election. Nurit, from the South Sharon area, attended the rally with her son-in-law and 18-year-old grandson, who arrived from Canada for his first vote. Zehava, also from New York, said she planned her visit in advance to vote for Likud.

Not all planned trips occurred as intended. Some Israelis were stranded abroad after flydubai canceled flights following an attempted terrorist attack. One traveler noted that the cancellation caused flight prices to the Far East to rise. Conversely, some Israelis who live in the country will be overseas on Election Day. Racheli, from Ramat Gan, booked a vacation in Vietnam nearly a year before the election date was confirmed. She said this would be the first time she misses a vote, describing the situation as a shame for Israelis traveling abroad on election day.