Biblical Zoo. More than NIS 32 million in revenues
Photo: GPO
Masada. Not as popular
Photo: GPO
Biblical Zoo is Israel's No. 1 tourist destination
Some 740,000 visitors enjoyed Jerusalemite animals over past year, Dan & Bradstreet reveals. Ramat Gan Safari ranked second; last year's winner, Masada, down to third place
Israelis' favorite touristy destination is the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, according to Dun's 100 ranking published recently by the Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) company, which provides credit information on businesses and corporations.
Dun's 100 rates the leading and most attractive tourism and recreation destinations for Israelis over the past year, and this is the 30th year it is published.
According to the data, the Biblical Zoo was the most profitable and attractive destinations for Israelis over the past year, with 738,304 visitors – a 7.4% rise compared to 687,647 visitors last year.
The zoo returned to the first place after being beaten by Masada last year and falling to the third place. The site's revenues totaled more than NIS 32 million (about $8.5 million).
One of Biblical Zoo's elephants (Archive photo: Eli Mandelbaum)
The Ramat Gan Safari came in second this year, with 685,530 visitors, after holding the fourth place in the Dun's 100 ranking for the past two years – a 17.8% rise in the number of visitors. The safari's revenues totaled more than NIS 29 million ($8 million).
Masada, which came in first last year, fell to the third place with 603,271 visitors – a 16.4% drop. The site of ancient palaces and fortifications generated a revenue of NIS 25.7 million ($7 million) - an 11.6% drop.
The Caesarea Antiquities site was ranked fourth with 599,654 visitors – a 16% drop and down from the second place last year. The site's revenues totaled NIS 7.6 million ($2 million).
The Hamat Gader hot springs site near the Sea of Galilee remained in the fifth place with 480,000 visitors.
The following sites were ranked in the next five spots: The Ein Gedi oasis, west of the Dead Sea (6); the Yamit 2000 Water Park in Holon (7); the Underwater Observatory Marine Park in Eilat (8); the Banias archaeological site, at the foot of Mount Hermon (9); and the Tel Aviv Luna Park (10).
In total, according to the Dun's 100 ranking, the past year saw a 5.8% drop in the number of visitors to the 10 leading sites and a 4.9% rise in their revenues.
