2005 Tourism

1,753,600 Tourists Visit Israel Between January and November 2005 - 28% Rise Over 2004 (12-15-05)

According to Israel's Ministry of Tourism and the country's Central Bureau of Statistics, 1,753,600 tourists visited Israel in the first 11 months of the year, a rise of 28 per cent over the same period last year.

"We expect about two million tourists to arrive by the end of the year," says Israel's Tourism Minister Avraham Hirchson.

The number of travelers arriving between January and November by air rose 24 per cent to 1,510,100. Entries via land crossing were up 54 per cent to 225,300 and 13,300 people arrived aboard cruise ships.

In November alone, 163,800 tourists entered the country, a 48 per cent jump over November 2004.

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73 Per Cent Rise in First-Time Visitors to Israel; Incoming Tourism Revenues for First Half of Year Leap 23 Per Cent to $1.1 Billion (12-13-05)

Israel's Tourism Minister Avraham Hirchson: "We are in the midst of an economic revolution; Tourism is one of the main engines of growth."

The Semi-Annual Israeli Inbound Tourism Survey released today shows that in the first six months of 2005, there was a 73 per cent increase in the number of first-time visitors to Israel�328,000 compared to 190,000 in the same period last year. The number of those arriving in the country for touring and sightseeing purposes more than doubled to 156,000 from 75,000 in the first half of 2004. Revenues from foreign tourism rose 23 per cent to $1.1 billion.

"The data show the effectiveness of our marketing efforts. Tourism is a major source of revenue for all sectors of Israeli society," says Israeli Minister of Tourism Avraham Hirchson.

11,000 tourists were interviewed for the survey which is intended to provide a snapshot of foreign tourists to Israel. The survey outlines their expenses, length of stay, purpose of visit, where tourists stay and more.

According to the survey, in the first six months of 2005, the number of tourists identifying themselves as Catholic rose 91 per cent to 156,000, 104,000 described themselves as Protestant (+39 per cent), 104,000 as other Christian (+53 per cent), 371,000 as Jewish (+5 per cent) and 130,000 said that they had no religious affiliation (+27 per cent).

The number of tourists arriving in Israel for pilgrimage purposes doubled from 68,000 in the first six months of 2004 to 138,000 this year. A 36 per cent rise in the number of business travelers was also reported. Those arriving on organized tours numbered 181,600 in the first six months of 2005, up 40 per cent from 88,000 a year ago.

Christians to Recharge Tourism in Israel

The Knesset Christian Allies Caucus and the Ministry of Tourism to launch a new cooperative effort.

Monday, February 24^st, 2005, Jerusalem: The tourism industry is vital to the health of Israel�s economy and has been hard hit in recent years. In order to reinvigorate tourism to Israel, the Christian Allies Caucus is participating with the Ministry of Tourism in a major new initiative to bring Christians to Israel.

This partnership, which is the first of its kind between a Knesset body and a Ministry, will be discussed and made public at an official meeting of the Christian Allies Caucus. The meeting will be held on March 1st at 17:00 in the Lecture Hall on the 1^st floor of the Knesset.

In addition to a discussion of the joint project between the Christian Allies Caucus and the Ministry of Tourism, the meeting will address various efforts to increase faith-based tourism to Israel. Participants will include Caucus co-Chairmen Yuri Shtern and Yair Peretz, as well as Caucus members Gila Gamliel, Gilad Erdan, Gila Finkelstein, Arieh Eldad, Isaac Herzog, Orit Noked, Benny Elon, Shaul Yahalom, Eliezer Sandberg, and Ilan Shalgai. Representatives of the Ministry of Tourism will also be present.

The 12 Knesset Members who comprise the Caucus come from six different parties in the Knesset (Likud, Mafdal, Labor, Shinui, National Union and Shas) and reflect the current make-up of the Knesset so that the views of the majority of Israel's citizens are represented.

The Christian Allies Caucus facilitates communication and promotes cooperation between the State of Israel and Christians around the world. For the first time in the history of the State of Israel, Christian churches and organizations and the Knesset have formal and direct lines of communication, and their representatives have a place to meet face to face. (Courtesy of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus and the GPO)

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Israel 01-09-05 In a survey sponsored by Israel's Ministry of Tourism, visitors to Israel rank their experience to the country a 4.2 out of 5. Eighty per cent describe their stay as �very good� or �excellent�.

Interestingly, 80 per cent of visitors from Britain described their visit as �excellent� or �very good� according to a new survey conducted by the firm Geocartographia during the first half of 2004. This following a recent survey by the UK Daily Telegraph showing Britons have a largely negative opinion of Israel. In total, 14,000 tourists from around the world were participated in the survey.

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Thirteen thousand pilgrims, including 4,700 Israeli-Arab Christians visited Bethlehem during Christmas. In the first eleven months of 2004, 1,358,400 tourists entered Israel, 44 per cent more than during the same period last year. Israel Tourism Ministry officials predict approximately 1.7 million visitors will arrive in 2005.

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Lowest spot on planet Earth transformed into park for all to enjoy

On November 30, 2004, Israeli Tourism Minister Gideon Ezra and foreign and Israeli dignitaries inaugurated �The Lowest Park on Earth�, transforming the lowest point on Earth into a unique tourist attraction for all to enjoy.

At 415 meters (1362 feet) below sea level, the Lowest Park on Earth is located in the unspoiled expanses north of the Ein Gedi Spa on the shores of Israel�s Dead Sea. Entrance to the site is free to the public. With the inauguration of the park, Israel officially joins Mts. Everest, Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc and others in the club of geographic greats.

The Dead Sea is renowned throughout the world for its curative qualities and is a magnet for people, particularly psoriasis sufferers, seeking to benefit from the therapeutic power of its mineral-rich waters.

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1,424,900 Tourists Enter Israel between January and September 2005 - 27% rise over same period last year

October 11, 2005 - According to Israel's Ministry of Tourism and Central Bureau of Statistics, 1,424,900 tourists entered the country between January and September 2005, a 27% increase over the same period in 2004.

"The momentum is continuing," says Tourism Minister Avraham Hirchson. "Our goal of two million visitors this year is within reach."

In the first nine months of the year, 1,229,000 tourists arrived by air (+23%), 181,600 overland (+48%) and additional 10,700 aboard cruise ships.

In September alone, 159,100 tourists entered the country, 30% more than a year ago.

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1,265,600 Tourists Enter Israel in the First Eight Months of 2005--26 per cent jump over same period last year

Statistics released 09-21-05 by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Tourism show the number of tourists to the country rose 11 per cent in August compared to August 2004. In the first eight months of the year, 1,265,600 visitors entered the country, a 26 per cent rise over the previous year.

Between January and August 2005, 1,092,300 travelers arrived by air (+22 per cent), 162,000 overland (+48 per cent) and 8,200 via cruise ship. In August alone, 196,200 visitors arrived, the majority by air.

Israeli Tourism Minister Avraham Hirchson says opening the country's skies to airline competition will boost tourism even further. Tourism is the engine of economic growth, says the minister.

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A million visitors and tourists in Jerusalem over the summer

A million visitors and tourists have visited Jerusalem during the summer months, according to data provided by the Jerusalem Hotel Association and the tourism and culture institutes in the city.

214,000 night-stays were documented in Jerusalem on July 2005, an increase of 84% compared to the same month in 2004. 77,000 of them were of Israelis (and increase of 36% compared to July 2004). The increase rate in Jerusalem is the highest in Israel.

According to checks conducted by the Jerusalem Tourism Authority with the sights in Jerusalem, hundreds of thousands have visited the various sights. Mayor Uri Lupolianski commented that the municipality will work to encourage that trend during the coming year.

Here are a few examples of visitor numbers in special events, sights and culture institutes in Jerusalem:

Chutzot Hyoyzer arts and crafts fair, celebrating its 30^th anniversary and making a comeback to Sultan's pool � approx. 100,000 visitors.
Yad Vashem, at the new museum � approx. 175,000 visitors.
Israel Museum, celebrating its 40^th anniversary with a variety of exhibitions and events � over 100,000 visitors.
The Biblical Zoo, offering a wide array of activities and attractions for the whole family � approx. 150,000 visitors.

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New record in Israeli tourism: 134,200 French visitors arrive in the

first half of 2005; a 28 per cent increase over the same period last year; significant rises registered from others (08-01-05)

Figures released by Israel's Ministry of Tourism and the Central Bureau of Statistics show a record 17,862 French tourists arrived in June alone, a 39 per cent increase over June 2004. 864,814 foreign tourists arrived in the country in the first six months of 2005, a 27% increase over 2004.