The worst seems to be over for Israel's tourism industry, and the long slow climb back up seems to have begun. The Tourism Ministry reports that the number of hotel stays in May of this year stood at 1.19 million, 3% more than in May 2002. Foreign tourists made up about 20% of this number, and totaled 28% more than last year.
On the other hand, Ben-Gurion arrivals and departures were disrupted this morning, as part of the Histadrut Labor Union's continuing struggle against the new pension plan system. The union has been holding short regional strikes over the past few weeks, and public employees in Ramle-Lod and Rishon LeTzion were on today's list. They held protests at major intersections, including the El Al junction at the entrance to the airport.
Tourism Minister Benny Elon, who just returned from a trip to the U.S. where he was working on bolstering Christian and Jewish tourism to Israel, says that the above statistics jibe with other signs that the industry is slowly recovering from the war in Iraq.
Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced yesterday the immediate transfer of 30 million shekels for the purpose of encouraging tourism to and in Israel. Most of the money will go for marketing, and five million shekels will be earmarked for tourism professionals such as tour guides, tour bus operators, and group organizers. The Finance Minister emphasized that the funding came as a result of great efforts by Minister Elon of the National Union party.
On the other hand, Ben-Gurion arrivals and departures were disrupted this morning, as part of the Histadrut Labor Union's continuing struggle against the new pension plan system. The union has been holding short regional strikes over the past few weeks, and public employees in Ramle-Lod and Rishon LeTzion were on today's list. They held protests at major intersections, including the El Al junction at the entrance to the airport.
Tourism Minister Benny Elon, who just returned from a trip to the U.S. where he was working on bolstering Christian and Jewish tourism to Israel, says that the above statistics jibe with other signs that the industry is slowly recovering from the war in Iraq.
Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced yesterday the immediate transfer of 30 million shekels for the purpose of encouraging tourism to and in Israel. Most of the money will go for marketing, and five million shekels will be earmarked for tourism professionals such as tour guides, tour bus operators, and group organizers. The Finance Minister emphasized that the funding came as a result of great efforts by Minister Elon of the National Union party.