23% Occupancy Spike as 70,000 Return for Vote

Africa Israel Hotels recorded a 23% jump in room occupancy for the current election week compared to October of last year. This rise coincides with an estimated 70,000 Israelis living abroad who have returned to the country, or are scheduled to arrive, before Tuesday's Knesset elections. The exact number of returning voters is an estimate, and no precise figure is available.

The scale of this return matters for the seat count. In the 2022 election, a party needed approximately 36,000 votes to secure one Knesset seat. Analysts project the threshold for this year could rise to between 38,000 and 39,000 votes due to population growth and expected higher turnout. If the race between major blocs remains tight, the votes of these returnees could influence the final allocation.

Polling data on the political leanings of these voters is scarce. Some estimates suggest a majority may support the change bloc, but there is no reliable consensus. Even if 60% of the 70,000 returnees voted for that bloc, the result would translate to a gain of only one to one-and-a-half seats. The final count will reveal whether these ballots shifted the balance.

Many of these travelers are not solely visiting to vote. Alex Eliyahu, marketing director at Africa Israel Hotels, noted that guests are pairing their civic duty with leisure. He described the trend as exercising a democratic right while taking a short vacation. Most arriving Israelis stay with relatives, friends, or in their own apartments, limiting the total impact on the hotel sector, yet the reported increases remain notable.

Fattal Hotels also observed a rise in bookings, particularly in central Israel. Maya Shalev, the chain's vice president of marketing and sales, attributed the increase to the upcoming election. To capture demand, the company is offering discounts of up to 30% on rates, with an additional 10% off for members of its loyalty program, valid from October 25 to 29. She stated that foreign bookings for these dates suggest Israelis are arriving specifically to cast ballots.

At the October Council rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, tens of thousands gathered in Hostages Square, including some of the returning voters. Judy, a resident of Miami for over 50 years, said she flew in to vote and will return in early November. She noted that while many Israelis in Miami and Los Angeles vote for the Right, she does not. Ofer, who arrived from New York, said his family traveled specifically for the vote and will depart 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 travelers made the trip as planned. Some Israelis were stranded after flydubai canceled flights following an attempted terrorist attack. One young man reported that the cancellations caused flight prices to the Far East to spike.