Based on the Central Bureau of Statistics data released on Monday, 391,000 visitors arrived in Israel in October 2012, an increase of 13% on last year. Of these, 298,000 were tourists (visitors who stayed at least one night in Israel), 11% more than last year.

From the beginning of the year until the end of October, a new record of 3 million visitor arrivals was registered, 8% more than the same period last year and 5% more than 2010. There was an increase in visitors arriving by air with 253,000 entries, 8% more than in October 2011. Of these, 8,700 tourists arrived on direct flights to Eilat and Uvda, an increase of 23% on last year. 45,000 entries were tourists arriving via the land crossings, 30% more than the same period last year. 33,000 came through the border crossings with Jordan, 22% more than last year.

Day visitors also registered an increase in October, with 93,000 entries, 22% more than last year. Of these, 7,000 came by air (60% more than last year) and 52,000 arrived on cruise ships, 19% more than last year.

According to the Statistics Department and information from the Tourism Ministry, tourism traffic into Israel in 2012 is expected to reach record highs.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov stated “We are reaping the fruits of the Tourism Ministry’s focused marketing efforts overseas. Against the background of a slow-down in tourism traffic around the world and the ongoing economic crisis, the achievement of continuous growth in the number of tourists coming in to Israel since the beginning of 2012 is particularly noteworthy. With the completion of the reforms in tourism based on the report submitted by the Bar Nir Committee, we can reach our target of 5 million tourists by the year 2015.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)