Israel set a tourism record last month, as 339,000 tourists entered the country in October 2013 – 14% more than a year earlier, and the highest single month number of entries in the country's history. This October broke the last record, set in 2010, by 4%, Tourism Ministry officials said Monday.
Over 297,000 people came into the country by air, 17% more than in October 2012; 10% of them landed in Eilat, a 16% increase compared to a year earlier. 36,000 people entered Israel from Jordan, 10% more than a year earlier, but entries at the Taba border crossing into Sinai numbered only 10% in October, with entries down at that terminal by 50% over a year before.
From January 1 through the end of October, 3 million entries of non-Israelis were counted at all of Israel's border terminals. That was 1% less than the corresponding figure for 2012, but more than in 2010 and 2011.
“Tourists are voting with their feet,” said Tourism Minister Uzi Landau. “Unlike other destinations, tourists find the sun shining in Israel throughout the year, and this in addition to the cultural and historical experiences we offer. The Tourism Ministry will continue to market Israel in order to further actualize the country's tourism potential,” Landau said.