Tourist at Dead Sea (archives)
Photo: Reuters
Israel sets new record in incoming tourism
Over 1.4 million visitors, tourists arrive in Israel between January and May 2012, 4% higher than previous record set in 2010
During the five first months of 2012, 1.4 million visitors arrived in Israel, a number that is 4% higher than the previous record set in 2010.
Israel also set a record in incoming tourism during the month of May, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported on Monday.
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"Against the background of the ongoing global economic crisis, the importance of investment in engines for growth becomes sharper and tourism is a central player in maintaining the robust Israeli economy," he added.
Based on data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics, 1.4 million visitors arrived in the months January – May 2012, 6% more than the same period in 2011 and 4% more than 2010, which was a record year. Of these, 1.2 million were tourists, 3% more than the same period last year.
In May 2012, another record was set with incoming tourism (visitors and tourists). About 321,000 visitors arrived in Israel, 4% more than the monthly record of 308,000 reached in the months of May 2010 and 2011. Among the tourists (those spending more than one night in Israel), about 269,000 arrived in May 2012, 1% more than the previous record set in May 2011.
There was an increase in those arriving by air with 1 million entries during Jan-May 2012 (2% more than the same period last year) and about 182,400 tourists crossed into Israel by land, 10% more than the same period last year.
