Visitor entries to Israel down 20% in September
Despite Gaza conflict, first nine months of 2014 still records 5% increase in tourist entries from same period last year.
Of these visitor entries, 179,000 were tourists (staying more than one night), 15% less than September 2013 and lower than the September statistics from 2008-2013.
About 158,000 entries were by air, a 17% decrease from September 2013. Some 21,000 tourists came through the border crossings,4.5% more than September 2013; 13,000 came through the border with Jordan (a 38% decrease) and about 8,000 through Taba to Eilat (3.5 times more than last September).
Some 26,000 entries were recorded by day visitors, 40% less than September 2013. Of these, 600 arrived on cruise ships, 97% less than last September (22,500). Roughly 9,000 day visitors arrived by air (48% less than last year) and about 16,000 came via the land crossings (6.5 times more than last year). In 2013, there were few entries across the border due to the events taking place there.
A total of 2.5 million visitors arrived in Israel in January- September 2014 (including day visitors), 4% less than the same period in 2013, 5% less than the same period in 2012, but an increase compared to 2011.
Of these, more than 2.2 million were tourists, 5% more than 2013 and 3% and 7% more than 2012 and 2011 respectively. Some 1.9 million entries were by air, 4% and 3% more than the same period in 2013 and 2012. 309,000 entries were by land (a 13% increase).
Some 250,000 day visitors entered Israel, 44% less than the same period in 2013. Of these, 66,500 arrived on cruise ships (a 63% decrease); 98,000 came through the border crossings (37% decrease) and about 86,000 entries were by air (22% decrease).
About 600,000 visitors entered Israel in the last three months (July-September 2014), 27% less that the same period last year (832,000). The most significant decrease was recorded in cruise ships - 93%. It should be noted, however, that the decrease in cruise ships pre-dates Operation Protective Edge.
According to Tourism Ministry Director-General Amir Halevy, "While the numbers show a slight recovery – and that is encouraging – we are receiving reports of cancellations for the coming months, and we know that tourism is the last to recover. We are working via our offices overseas to get the bookings back again."
Tourism Minister Dr. Uzi Landau commented, "This week we registered an important achievement – the increase of flights from Moscow to Ovda Airport near Eilat. This is the first signs of a recovery for tourism in the days after Operation Protective Edge.
"The hard work of tourism ministry employees and industry representatives, day in day out, combined with the 'Precisely Now' marketing campaign and the approval of a half a billion shekel aid package all helps to stabilize the industry in these challenging times."
