2010 Stats
May 11, 2010
CONTINUING TO BREAK RECORDS:
317,000 TOURISTS VISITED ISRAEL IN APRIL 2010 – 26% MORE THAN APRIL 2009 AND 9% MORE THAN APRIL 2008;
1,063,000 TOURISTS VISITED ISRAEL IN FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 2010
TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV: "THE GOVERNMENT MUST ADAPT TO THE GLOBAL MARKET AND THE COMPETITION FOR THE TOURIST'S AFFECTION AND INCREASE THE MINISTRY'S MARKETING AND INVESTMENT BUDGET, THEREBY ENABLING THE REALIZATION OF THE TOURISM POTENTIAL
317,000 tourists visited Israel in April 2010 – an all-time record for the month of April – and an increase of 26% on April 2009 and 9% on April 2008. 1,063,000 tourists visited Israel in the first four months of 2010, an increase of 44% on the same period last year and 13% more than 2008, which was Israel's record year for tourism to date.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, during Jan-April 2010 there was an increase of 31% in the number of tourists staying at least one night in Israel (686,000) compared to the same period last year and 7% more than in 2008. Despite the problems in air travel caused by the ash cloud during April, there was an increase in visitors arriving by air (12% on 2009 and 5% on 2008).
In addition to data on incoming tourism, from the beginning of this year the ministry has begun collecting data from various sources on income from tourism. Based on this data, the ministry estimates that the income from incoming tourism only (excluding air travel) reached about 2.6 billion shekel (about $695 million) in the first quarter of 2010. This figure is about 32% higher than the income generated in the first quarter of 2009 (about 39% in dollar terms) and 9% more than the same period in 2008.
The Tourism Ministry, in cooperation with the tourism industry, is currently preparing for the budget debates related to 2011-2012 and is formulating a work plan and budget requests in line with the ministry's objective of an additional million tourists – in total, 4 million tourists in 2012.
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov noted that "The constant growth in incoming tourism over recent months, alongside the increase in revenues and employment in the tourism industry, sharpens the tourism ministry's contribution to the Israeli economy which creates direct employment for about 90,000 and indirect employment for about 160,000 in all areas of the Israeli economy. An increase in incoming tourism has an immediate effect of millions of dollars on the economy's income and the creation of new jobs, most of which, conspicuously and significantly, are in the periphery."
The Israeli government has began to recognize the tourism industry's enormous potential and must already exploit and realize it, with a significant increase in the budget for marketing Israel overseas, as well as easing the bureaucracy which currently prevents the construction of hotels and tourist attractions. "The April figures and the data relating to the first four months of the year are encouraging, but the competition for the tourist's affection is harsh especially given the global economic crisis which influenced the level of pricing and demand. We must adapt ourselves to the global market," added the minister.
(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism)
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May 10, 2010
Jerusalem Day 2010 Figures – Brief Announcement
▪ In the end of 2009 Jerusalem population stood at 774,000 residents (provisional data, courtesy of the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics)
▪ In 2008, the fertility rate (the number of children a woman is expected to bear during her life) of Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem became equal, and is now 4 children for both Jewish and Arab women in the city.
▪ Jews: The rate of women’s participation in the labor force in Jerusalem (50%) is higher than that of men (46%). In Israel as a whole the situation is the reverse, with the rate of women’s participation (57%) being lower than that of men (62%).
Geographic distribution of the population in 2008
▪ 456,300 residents (Jews and Arabs) lived in neighborhoods built in areas added to Jerusalem in 1967, representing 60% of the total population of Jerusalem – among the residents of these neighborhoods, 192,800 are Jews (and other non-Arabs) (42%), and 263,500 are Arabs (58%).
▪ 39% of the total Jewish (and other non-Arab) population lived in neighborhoods built in areas added to Jerusalem in 1967. 98% of the total Arab population in 2008 lived in areas added to Jerusalem in 1967.
Migration
In 2009, 12,800 persons moved to Jerusalem and 19,900 residents of Jerusalem left the city. The negative migration balance stood at -7,100. (Provisional data, courtesy of the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics)
In 2009, 51% of residents leaving Jerusalem moved to the localities surrounding Jerusalem (West Bank Jewish settlements, west to Jerusalem in Jerusalem district and Modiin-Maccabim-Reut)
Religious and secular
▪ The percentage of Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews in Jerusalem is 3.6 times greater than their percentage in Israel as a whole. The percentage of religious (but not Haredi) Jews is 1.4 times greater, while the percentage of secular non-religious Jews in Jerusalem is less than half their percentage in the country as a whole. (The figures refer to adult Jews aged 20 and above, on average for 2006 – 2008, processed for the social survey of the Central Bureau of Statistics - CBS)
▪ 27% of Jewish men aged 15 and above in Jerusalem studied or are studying in a yeshiva (2008 census, CBS)
Jerusalem’s education system 2009/10
▪ The education system in Jerusalem is the largest and most complex in Israel, and serves almost quarter of a million students.
▪ 64% of the students study in Hebrew education schools and 36% learn in the Arab education stream.
▪ 62% of students in Hebrew education study in the Haredi stream, and 38% in the state and state religious education system.
Participation in the labor force
▪ Jews: The rate of women’s participation in the labor force in Jerusalem (50%) is higher than that of men (46%). In Israel as a whole the situation is the reverse, with the rate of women’s participation (57%) being lower than that of men (62%).
▪ The rate of participation in the labor force in Jerusalem is relatively low, with a slow trend towards a further decrease, from 46% in 2000 to 45% in 2008, despite the increase in participation in the labor force countrywide from 54% to 57%. In Tel Aviv, for example, the rate of participation in the labor force increased from 60% to 66%.
Tourism
▪ In 2009, for the first time in 5 years, there was a decrease in the number of tourists coming to Israel and to Jerusalem. It can be assumed that the global economic crisis contributed to this decrease. The number of hotel guests in Jerusalem decreased in 2009 by 17% relative to 2008, with 1,124,000 guests; 769,900 of these were tourists from abroad (70% of all guests).
▪ The number of tourists from abroad in Jerusalem’s hotels decreased by 29%, while the number of Israeli tourists in the hotels increased by 28%.
Construction
▪ Increse in the number of the residential apartments completed. In 2008 the construction of 2,265 residential apartments was completed, in comparison to 1,755 apartments in 2007.
http://www.jiis.org.il
(Courtesy of the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies and the GPO)
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April 14, 2010
TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV:
"A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IS THE TOURISM MINISTRY'S BUDGET IS OBLIGATED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM IN TOURISM THAT IS PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT TO TENS OF THOUSANDS, AND A YEARLY INCOME OF TENS OF BILLIONS OF SHEKEL INTO THE ECONOMY."
The growth in incoming tourism continues: the highest ever March monthly total was recorded this March with 313,000 tourists visiting Israel – 56% more than March 2009; 17% more than March 2008 and 9% more than March 2000. In the period January-March 2010, 747,000 tourists visited Israel, an increase of 54% on the same period last year and an increase of 15% on 2008.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, about 216,000 tourists arrived by air (42% more than in March 2009 and 15% more than March 2008), of which 9,100 arrived on direct flights to Eilat – an increase of 42% on March 2009 and 2008. 14,300 tourists visited Israel on cruise ships – no cruise ships visited Israel in March 2009 and only 400 tourists visited Israel on cruise ships in March 2008.
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov said today that, within the context of preliminary discussions on the 2011-2012 budget, the continuing growth in incoming tourism – this is the fourth consecutive month of growth - obligates a significant increase in the ministry's budget in order to continue the momentum: "In 2009, despite the global economic crisis and the Gaza operation, the Israeli tourism industry has succeeded in making a quick recovery thanks to the immediate focused marketing efforts of the tourism ministry and the industry and the beginning of the implementation of the three-year work plan formulated by the ministry last November."
"The tourism industry generates employment and income – one of the fastest and most efficient in the economy – and investment in this industry will create tens of thousands of new jobs, most of them in the periphery, and additional income of hundreds of millions of shekel into the economy. The lack of a significant budget increment will make difficult the achievement of the ministry's goal of bringing an additional one million tourists to Israel by 2012 and the economy will lose hundreds of millions of shekel and thousands of jobs." The minister added that it is important to remember that "every additional 10,000 tourists create 4000 new jobs and generate income of 450 million shekel."
(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism)
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March 9, 2010
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)
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February 15, 2010
CATHOLIC TOURISM CONTINUES TO RISE – SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN TOURISTS FROM ITALY, SPAIN AND BRAZIL IN JANUARY 2010; OVER A MILLION VISITS TO THE TOURISM MINISTRY'S CATHOLIC WEBSITE THAT HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR LESS THAN A YEAR.
TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV:
"CATHOLIC TOURISM IS FAR FROM REACHING ITS POTENTIAL.
THE TOURISM MINISTRY IS INVESTING SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES IN THIS COMMUNITY WITH THE EMPHASIS ON RELIGIOUS, HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ELEMENTS."
Success for the Tourism Ministry's marketing activities with the Catholic community worldwide: in January 2010, significant increases were recorded in tourism from Catholic countries where the Tourism Ministry has invested in intensive and focused marketing activities, continuing the recovery trend in these countries in recent months. About 6,700 tourists arrived from Italy in January 2010 (81% more than Jan. 2009, 40% more than 2008); more than 3,600 tourists arrived from Brazil (171% more than Jan. 2009, 46% more than 2008); 2,400 tourists arrived from Brazil (60% more than Jan. 2009, 22% more than 2008). 6,000 tourists arrived from Poland and 11,500 from France.
The Tourism Ministry invested over 10 million shekel in promoting Catholic tourism to Israel in 2009. The marketing activities focused on expanding existing contacts with veteran tourism wholesalers and developing new ones; activities with the Catholic communities in target countries; and implementing targeted campaigns following the Papal visit, using a specially-commissioned film that documented Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Israel. In addition, the ministry continued working on the very successful dedicated mini-site which was launched in advance of the Papal visit. Over a million visits to the website have been recorded (including 232,000 in January of whom 1300 requested information and updates.) Brazil, USA, Poland and Spain - important source countries for incoming tourism - are the leading countries in terms of website traffic.
In November 2009, Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov made the first official visit of an Israeli tourism minister in the last decade to South American countries, Brazil and Argentina and he visited Spain and Portugal in January 2010. During these visits, the minister met with opinion formers and the heads of the Catholic churches and signed tourism agreements in Brazil and Portugal in order to strengthen Christian tourism to Israel. In his visits, the minister stressed the positioning of Israel as the Holy Land with Jerusalem at its center and as a preferred tourism destination.
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov: "Catholic tourism has great potential that has yet to be realized and, over the next few years, the Tourism Ministry will continue to promote the Israeli tourism product, stressing the religious, historical and archeological elements to this community. The Papal visit in May 2009 and its leverage via the implementation of focused marketing activities in these countries, proves that there is great demand for Israel's tourism product by the Catholic community around the world. We will continue to work to fulfill this potential."
In 2008, 3 million tourists visited Israel, 35% of whom were Catholics. In 2009, about 29% of the 2.7 million tourists who visited Israel were Catholic.
(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism)
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February 10, 2010
STARTING THE YEAR ON THE RIGHT FOOT
A RECORD JANUARY FOR INCOMING TOURISM: 212,000 TOURISTS VISITED ISRAEL
62% MORE THAN JANUARY 2009
AND 17% MORE THAN JANUARY 2008
TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV:
“A RECORD JANUARY FOR INCOMING TOURISM IS A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN ISRAEL’S TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THE BEGINNING OF THE ACTUALIZATION OF THE MINISTRY’S GOAL OF BRINGING A MILLION ADDITIONAL TOURISTS WITHIN THREE YEARS”
212,000 tourists visited Israel in January 2010, an increase of 62% over January 2009, 17% more than January 2008, 83% more than January 2007 and an all-time record for the month.
The numbers of one-day visitors to Israel also increased in January 2010 by 39% over January 2009 and 9% over January 2008.
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov noted yesterday, at the opening of IMTM (the International Mediterranean Tourism Market held in Tel Aviv): “ The Tourism Ministry’s continuous marketing activities during 2009, the increased budgets and the January statistics prove that the demand for Israel’s touris
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