Travelers Come Back To Israel With Jubilee Year, Increased Flights (2025)

Easter and Passover will bring many thousands of tourists and pilgrims to Israel, as travel to the Holy Land starts to recover. Christian travel to Israel has been traditionally the largest segment. There are an estimated 2.38 billion Christians, including 1.2 billion Catholics, millions of whom would like to see important religious sites firsthand.

Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, travel to the region has been affected. While many world airlines, including United and Delta, have re-started flights to Israel, others, such as American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, have not. But the opportunities to see where Christ, the Apostles, King David and other Biblical figures walked are bringing back leisure travelers and pilgrims alike.

“With the Pope declaring the theme of this Jubilee Year as 'Pilgrims of Hope,’ 2025 is an especially meaningful time for people of the Catholic faith—and all faiths—to plan a trip to Israel, the Holy Land,” says Yoram Elgrabli, North America Tourism Commissioner, Israel Ministry of Tourism.

Elgrabli added, "In addition to U.S. flag carriers United Airlines and Delta Air Lines reinstating daily service to Tel Aviv, travelers seeking renewal and reflection in the Holy Land will discover a host of new hotels, restaurants, and attractions to enrich their spiritual journeys. We hope pilgrims from around the world will come and celebrate with us."

A major driver of Christian tourism is expected to be the Catholic Jubilee, a special year of celebration that happens once every 25 years. It began on Christmas Eve 2024 and will continue until January 6, 2026, a day known as The Solemnity of Epiphany.

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) , “2025 is the Jubilee Holy Year, the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of our Lord, an event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church." The concept of "Jubilee" has its origins in the Book of Leviticus (chapter 25) as a special year of reconciliation, pilgrimage, and coming home.

Visitors to Israel in 2025 include Catholic travelers looking to connect with their religious roots, general leisure travelers looking for meaningful experience and Christian travelers looking to expand their knowledge, In addition to sightseeing, Israel is preparing for multiple events and pilgrimages, highlighting significant sites including the Basilica of the Annunciation, the Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem and more.

Basilica of the Annunciation

Located in Nazareth, travelers can visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, the location stated in the Bible where the Angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to Jesus. The Basilica of the Annunciation is open to the public for Sunday Mass as well as self-guided tours. For the Catholic Jubilee, the Virgin Mary’s interaction with the Angel Gabriel will be a main focal point for prayer.

Sea of Galilee

Various sites around the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus is said to have preached and performed miracles, will host gatherings and prayer services. Pilgrimage travelers will enjoy celebrations at beautiful the Mount of Beatitudes, a hill in Northern Israel believed to be a site where Jesus delivered his sermons. Another location in the Galilee hosting Catholic Jubilee events is the Capernaum, a village mentioned throughout the New Testament. It is known as the place where Jesus spent his Galilean Ministry years and met five of his apostles, James, John, Peter, Andrew and Matthew.

Jerusalem

Jerusalem will host multiple events for the Catholic Jubilee throughout 2025, including a special procession along the path Jesus took carrying the cross at the Via Dolorosa. There will be additional services and prayer time focusing on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, as well as opportunities for prayer and reflection at the Garden of Gethsemane. On June 8, Pentecost will be celebrated with gatherings emphasizing the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.

Churches in Tabgha

Located on the coast of Western Galilee, Tabgha is known for Jesus’s miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish to feed a multitude. Home to the Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter and Churches of Tabgha, both sites offer Christian travelers the opportunity to feel connected to their religious heritage.

Mount of Olives

The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is a historically significant landmark dating back to the days of the Bible. East of the Old City, it is home to sites including Church of Pater Noster, Garden of Gethsemane and one of the largest cemeteries in the county housing over 150,000 graves.

Garden of Gethsemane

The Garden of Gethsemane, at the base of the Mount of Olives, is said to be where Jesus agonized on the night of his arrest and crucifixion. Gethsemane has a historic backstory that attracts both faith-based and general leisure travelers. Visitors can go on guided and self-guided tours.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

In some traditions, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem is said to be the location where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. The church is still operational and one of the top tourist attractions for visitors in Israel. Visitors can choose to partake in prayer and go on guided and self-guided tours of the grounds. On Saturday, April 19, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre will be hosting The Holy Fire ceremony ahead of Easter.

Via Dolorosa

The Via Dolorosa, in Jerusalem's Old City, is traditionally regarded as the route Jesus walked on his way to his crucifixion. Divided into 14 stations, the route stretches 1,970 feet (600 meters) from the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The Christian Quarter within the Old City was built around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. One of Jerusalem’s Four Quarters, it is a center for Christian and Catholic pilgrimage and visitation to its churches, monasteries and shrines. On a more secular level, it is also home to the Muristan Market, a colorful outdoor market full of shops and restaurants.

A number of tour operators offer Christian Holy Land tours through a faith-based lens. These tours can offer deeper insight into biblical history. They can also offer the opportunity to forge lifelong spiritual connections, walk in the path of biblical figures, and learn about ancient culture and history alongside like-minded believers.

Tours are typically accompanied by a certified guide and bus driver. This year many travel agencies are offering tours focused on the Catholic Jubilee. General interest tours are also available.

With Inspiration Travel, for example, “travelers have the opportunity to step into biblical history by walking the streets of Jerusalem, sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane and sailing the calm waters of the Sea of Galilee.”

Bible Comes to Life offers faith-based tours to Catholics, showcasing Israel through the lens of the bible.

City Express Travel Tours offers 10- to 16-day tours to large Christian groups from congregations and schools. Each trip offers four-star accommodations, transportation, meals and airfare.

Pilgrim Tours offers nine to 24-day trips to Israel year-round, highlighting the country through guided tours to experience the land that Jesus walked.

Israel Tourism Consultants specializes in fully escorted Holy Land tours and group travel to Israel. Their comprehensive Jewish Heritage Tour of Israel focuses on learning and understanding Israeli history and how it connects to Jewish heritage through visiting significant sites, institutes, museums and cities.

Purposeful Journeys offers a variety of tours to Israel catering to the Christian market. America Israel Tours (AIT) and Friendship Tours also offer a variety of faith-based and secular tours.