The Tourism Ministry is expecting a 30 percent increase in tourism to Israel during the Passover holiday, according to the ministry's Director General Shaul Tzemach. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who also holds the portfolio of Minister of Tourism, said this week he is allocating 150 million shekels ($42 million) to help hoteliers add more rooms.
Hotel occupancy rates are anticipated to be 80 percent and even higher in Jerusalem.