Tourism to Israel increased by 36 percent between January and October of 2008 as compared to the same period the year before, Tourism Ministry officials announced Monday. The Tourism Ministry spokesman credited intensive marketing efforts for the increase, and expressed confidence that tourism would increase next year as well, even in light of recent financial woes in the United States.
One of the biggest increases was seen in the number of one-day visitors to Israel. Approximately 55,000 people came to Israel for just one day in 2008, an increase of 80 percent compared to the year before.
Most of the one-day visitors were citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Chechnya. Most entered Israel via the Taba crossing, stopping off in Eilat for several hours before returning to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. In addition, 5,400 tourists arrived in Israel via a direct flight to Eilat - an increase of 32 percent from 2007.
In October, Israel hit a new record as 302,000 visitors arrived. In October of 2007, 250,000 visitors arrived in Israel. The previous record was set in October of 1999, when 292,000 visitors arrived.
Delta to Increase NY-Tel Aviv Flights
The United States-based flight company Delta Airlines plans to increase the number of flights on its New York-Tel Aviv line, Tourism Minister Ruhama Avraham said. The company renewed its flights to Israel in 2006 after years without Delta flights to and from the country.
The company will add four flights a week between New York and Tel Aviv for a total of 4,000 additional seats each month. The new flights will begin in the summer of 2009.
"Delta's decision is an important expression of faith in Israel's tourism industry,” Avraham said. The Tourism Ministry will continue its efforts to promote tourism from North America and elsewhere, she added.