NEW RECORD FOR INCOMING TOURISM: 222,000 TOURISTS VISITED ISRAEL IN FEBRUARY 2010 – HIGHEST FEBRUARY FIGURE EVER: 46% MORE THAN FEBRUARY 2009

AND 12% MORE THAN FEBRUARY 2008

TOURISM MINISTRY IS READY TO WELCOME THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS EXPECTED OVER THE PASSOVER AND EASTER PERIOD

THE TOURISM MINISTRY'S INSPECTION UNIT BEGINS QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTION IN TOURIST SITES, ATTRACTIONS AND HOTELS

The Tourism Ministry has begun preparations to welcome the tens of thousands of tourists and visitors who are expected to visit tourist and leisure sites and attractions and hotels throughout Israel over the Passover and Easter period. In the last few days, the Tourism Ministry's Inspection Unit has begun quality control inspection of the tourism product and service in tourism sites, attractions, hotels and cities expected to receive high levels of tourist traffic over the holiday period.

The Tourism Ministry employees will check, among others, the maintenance and operating standards, access for the disabled, signage, opening hours, levels of cleanliness in sites and cities such as Jerusalem, Nazareth, Tiberias, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Dead Sea and Eilat, as well as the readiness of the hotels to welcome tourists and guests.

The Government Tourist Offices in Jerusalem, Nazareth, Eilat and Ben Gurion will be open as normal throughout the holiday, providing information on tourism sites and attractions, events, festivals etc.

The growth trend in incoming tourism continues: February 2010 recorded a record ever high for the month with 222,000 tourists – 46% more than February 2009, 12% more than February 2008 and 4% more than February 2000. 178,000 visitors stayed at least one night in Israel, an increase of 28% over February 2009 and 3% on February 2008.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov once again warned about the anticipated lack of hotel rooms in the near future due to the continuing growth in incoming tourism: "The encouraging incoming tourism statistics in recent months are proof that the marketing activities of the Tourism Ministry are bearing fruit. Nonetheless, I call upon entrepreneurs and hoteliers today to take advantage of the help available through the Tourism Ministry to build new hotels and bring other hotels back into use. A lack of hotel rooms in the future will adversely affect our ability to host tourists in Israel and lead to the loss of many millions in income."

(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism)