More Europeans coming to visit
Survey of visitors: Nearly all are satisfied by trip, with some 95 percent saying they will encourage friends to visit Israel
European tourism to Israel has increased dramatically this year, according to the latest figures.
A survey by Israel’s Ministry of Tourism showed that 30 percent more people visited Israel from the continent during the first nine months of 2005, compared with the same period last year.
The 2004 Inbound Tourism Survey said 1.4 million tourists visited Israel between January and September 2005 from all over the world. In September alone, 159,100 tourists entered the country.
The study, commissioned by the Tourism Ministry and the Central Bureau of Statistics, indicated a significant increase in tourist traffic from Ireland, Italy, Spain and Portugal between 2004 and 2005.
Portugal recorded a 172 percent increase of number of tourists who went to Israel. Ireland registered an 81 percent growth, Italy a 70 percent rise and Spain a 124 percent increase.
Continuing rise
Commenting on the new figures, Israeli tourism minister Avraham Hirchson said he expects the numbers to continue to jump.
“The momentum is continuing," he said. "Our goal of 2 million visitors this year is within reach.”
Portugal and Poland were among the countries to record the highest increase of the number of tourists, while Germany saw a 32 percent rise and France a rise of 22 percent.
Aline Boublil, director of Joubert Voyages travel agency in Paris, which specializes in trips to Israel, said there has been a notable increase in interest from holidaymakers wishing to make tours to Israel.
“Compared with last year, we noticed a rise of 45 percent, and we just deal with tours,” Boubil said. “Last year, we registered between 15 and 20 people on each tour. Today we are accepting up to 80 people. We have even had to refuse people because our tours are full. And we noticed a 300 per cent increase for the months of September, October and November, compared with last year over the same period."
She said the increase is sharp and is continuing.
"People have not been there for a long time and now they want to visit it,” Boublil said.
Half are Jews
The inbound tourism survey gave a good indication of who the tourists are and why they have chosen to visit Israel.
According to the report, only just over half of the tourists are Jews (52 percent). Just over 40 percent came alone, and a third are aged 25-44. Nearly three-quarters of the respondents had visited Israel more than once, while 27 percent were coming to the Holy Land for the first time.
Nearly 40 percent of the tourists said they chose Israel for family reasons, 15 percent decided to visit Israel because of the holy places, while other reasons people traveled to Israel included business trips, visiting friends, and because of the weather.
And, happily for the ministry, nearly all of these tourists said they were satisfied by their trip, with some 95 percent saying they will encourage their friends to visit the country.
Reprinted by permission of European Jewish Press
