In March, Israel saw 393,000 tourists arriving in the country, representing a 34% increase in comparison to March 2017 and a 63% increase in comparison to March 2016. An average of 23,200 arrived each day, for a 98% increase since March 2017 and 26% more since 2016.
Of those, 348,200 tourist entries were by air, 36% more than in March 2017 and 60% more than during March 2016. An additional 44,600 tourists arrived via Israel's land crossings, 19% more than in March 2017 and 101% more than in March 2016.
Over the course of March 2018, tourism injected $577 million into the economy.
Between January- March 2018, about 949,000 tourist entries were recorded, representing a 30% increase when compared to the same period last year, and a 58% increase when compared to the same period in 2016. Since the beginning of the year, tourism has injected 4.9 billion NIS ($1,392,923,000) into the Israeli economy.
The largest increases were registered in those countries in which the ministry is investing its marketing efforts – 39% increase in USA, 136% in Poland, 90% in Sweden, 68% in Spain, 55% in Germany and 49% in France.
Tourism Minister Yariv Levin (Likud) commented, “Following the opening of new direct air routes and new markets from India and Brazil in the last month, we are witnessing record levels of incoming tourists.”
“I am pleased that impressive increases were recorded in March as well. This a result of the marketing activities and the innovative steps we are taking, together with the incentives for airlines and investment in infrastructure.
“Tourism continues to contribute significantly to the Israeli economy and the labor market.”
