All the news about Israeli tourism

Since the start of 2009 there were a total of 968,000 visitors to Israel, this represents a 22 percent fall compared to the corresponding period last year. A similar percentage fall was also recorded in May.  Minister of Tourism commented:  “We are formulating a plane to confront the worldwide economic recession and the slump in tourism.”

Based on data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics, during May there were 203,000 tourists who spent at least one night in Israel; this is a 20 percent fall compared with May 2008.  There were 28,000 entrances were for visitors spending a single day in Israel, this figure was a reduction of 35 percent compared with last year.

Despite Pope’s visit to Israel during May, the total number of entrances to Israel through Ben Gurion Airport was 175,000 – a reduction of 10 percent on the last occasion that a Pope visited Israel in 2000; when there were a total of 194,000 visitors.  The Ministry of Tourism emphasized that during the two days prior to the Pope’s visit the number of visitors per day averaged 7,800; this compares to a daily average during May of only 5,600.

According to Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov, the visit of Pope John Paul II in the year 2000 resulted in a record number of incoming tourists visiting Israel. He added that the Ministry of Tourism would continue to carry out intensive marketing activities throughout the world, in order to slow down the sharp drop in the number of visitors coming to Israel.

Misezhnikov added that the ministry is formulating a plan to deal with the worldwide economic recession and the slump in tourism and is working in cooperation with many different authorities in the industry. Cancelling the Treasury’s plan to abolish VAT exemptions on foreign tourists is a necessity in order to prevent the collapse of the tourist industry and the dismissal of thousands of workers.

On 17th June, Misezhnikov will be travelling to Russia on his first overseas visit, this in order to meet with the tourist heads, among them government officials, tourism wholesalers, marketing specialists, and representatives from the aviation industry, this in order to find solutions to remove limits and to expand operations, mainly in the field of aviation and marketing.  The minister’s visit will last for 6 days.