All the news about Israeli tourism

In April 2009 a total of 252,000 tourists visited Israel, a 13 percent fall compared to last April; but a 23 percent increase on April 2007. The first quarter of 2009 saw a fall of 25 percent in incoming tourism.

Based on the data released by the Central Statistical Office, a total of 222,000 incoming tourists stayed at least one night in Israel, a fall of 13 percent on the same period last year.  A total of 29,000 tourists visited for one day, a fall of 17 percent compared with April 2008.  However 5,200 visitors arrived by sea, an increase of 53 percent on the previous year.

From the beginning of the year until April a total of 735,000 tourists visited Israel, a fall of 22 percent on the same period last year, but a 13 percent increase on the corresponding period in 2007.

Other information from the Central Statistical Office showed that there were 343,000 departures from Israel – 274,000 by air, 56,000 overland of which 22,000 were departures to Sinai.

Minister of Tourism, Stas Misezhnikov explained that the Ministry of Tourism will invest more than 90 million shekels by the end of the year on marketing activities around the world, focusing on targeted audiences in order to reduce the steady tourist decline in preparation for 2010.