The Ministry of Tourism has released the statistics gauging the condition of Israel’s tourism industry and the figures look extremely positive. There has been a 24% increase from the past year in the number of visitors from the US in the first nine months of this year, and the upward trend is continuing.
Most of the visitors to the Holy Land hail from the US, France, Russia and Britain. Between January - September of this year, 181,740 visitors came to Israel from the
US, compared with 147,084 visitors in the first nine months of 2002.
In September 2003 there was an increase of 13% in tourist traffic from the USA (20,044 visitors as compared with 17,720 in the same month last year). September also showed an impressive increase of 52% in tourist traffic from central and South America (3,968 as compared with 2,610 in September 2002). The South American countries with the greatest increase being: Argentina, Chile and Venezuela. Other countries that provided an impressive increase in tourist traffic in September were: Mexico - an increase of 95%, Italy - an increase of 90% (2,229 as compared with 1,174), Sweden - an increase of 60%, and Jordan - an increase of 40% (5,271 as compared with 3,756 in September last year).
The countries of origin chosen by the Ministry of Tourism as places where its greatest marketing efforts would be focused also showed an increase in tourism during September. There was an increase of 36% from Russia (4,575 in September this year, as compared with 3,361 in September last year); an increase of 17% from France (8,877 as compared with 7,606); an increase of 11% from Britain (8,686 as compared with 7,853) and, as mentioned, an increase of 13% from the USA.
The Minister of Tourism, Benny Elon, said that the figures indicate a continuation of the trend in tourism traffic to Israel and that they reinforce and confirm the ministry's marketing policies. The minister added that November was also expected to be a successful month, due to a number of large conferences due to be held in Israel this month.
Most of the visitors to the Holy Land hail from the US, France, Russia and Britain. Between January - September of this year, 181,740 visitors came to Israel from the
US, compared with 147,084 visitors in the first nine months of 2002.
In September 2003 there was an increase of 13% in tourist traffic from the USA (20,044 visitors as compared with 17,720 in the same month last year). September also showed an impressive increase of 52% in tourist traffic from central and South America (3,968 as compared with 2,610 in September 2002). The South American countries with the greatest increase being: Argentina, Chile and Venezuela. Other countries that provided an impressive increase in tourist traffic in September were: Mexico - an increase of 95%, Italy - an increase of 90% (2,229 as compared with 1,174), Sweden - an increase of 60%, and Jordan - an increase of 40% (5,271 as compared with 3,756 in September last year).
The countries of origin chosen by the Ministry of Tourism as places where its greatest marketing efforts would be focused also showed an increase in tourism during September. There was an increase of 36% from Russia (4,575 in September this year, as compared with 3,361 in September last year); an increase of 17% from France (8,877 as compared with 7,606); an increase of 11% from Britain (8,686 as compared with 7,853) and, as mentioned, an increase of 13% from the USA.
The Minister of Tourism, Benny Elon, said that the figures indicate a continuation of the trend in tourism traffic to Israel and that they reinforce and confirm the ministry's marketing policies. The minister added that November was also expected to be a successful month, due to a number of large conferences due to be held in Israel this month.