title: [The profile of Israeli travelers to developing countries: perspectives of a travel clinic].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of Israeli travelers is increasing, including the number of travelers to developing countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to characterize the profile of Israeli travelers to developing countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data regarding demographics, travel destinations, trip duration and the purpose of travel were collected on travelers attending the pre-travel clinic at the Sheba Medical Center during a period of 9 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between the dates 1/1/1999 and 31/12/2007, 42,771 travelers presented for consultation at the Sheba Medical Center pre-travel clinic. The average age was 30.8 +/- 13.4 years and 54% of the travelers were males. The female proportion increased from 42% in 1999 to 49% in 2006. There was a steady increase in the number of travelers attending our clinic, except in 2003 (coinciding with the SARS epidemic). Post-army backpackers (20-25 year-old age group) were only 43% of the travelers. Children (<18 years), and elderly (>60 years) comprised 4.4% and 4.6% of the travelers, respectively. The favorite destinations were Asia (55%), followed by Latin America (27%) and Africa (13%). The distribution of travel destinations varied significantly during the study period. Of note is the sharp decline in travel to Africa following the terrorist attack in Mombassa, Kenya (November 2002). The median trip duration changed during the study period, from 30 to 45 days, between 1999-2004 and 2005-2007 respectively. The majority (87%) of voyagers traveled for pleasure, 6% went for business, and 7% were representatives of governmental organizations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found an increasing diversity in the traveler population (more women, more children and older travelers) and more diversity in travel destinations. Disease outbreaks and terrorist attacks had transient negative impacts on the number of travelers.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Travel Medicine and Tropical Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. shmuel.stienlauf@sheba.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Shmuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stienlauf
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leshem
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rendi-Wagner
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D023481:Terrorism / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014195:Travel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult