According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 244,000 visitors entered Israel in February 2014, 5% more than February 2013, 5% more than February 2012 – an all-time record for the month of February. Of these visitor entries, 221,500 were tourists (staying more than one night), 21% more than February 2013, and 11% and 12% more than February 2012 and 2011 – another all-time record for the month.

191,000 entries were by air, 19% more than February 2013, of which 6,800 arrived on direct flights to Eilat (45% more than February 2013). 31,000 tourists came through the border crossings, 34% more than February 2013; 22,000 came through the border with Jordan (36% increase) and about 8,000 through Taba to Eilat (30% more than last February).

22,000 entries were recorded by day visitors, 55% less than February 2013. Of these, 7,000 arrived on cruise ships, 73% less than last February. (Last year, many cruise ships anchored in Eilat, less so this year). 13,000 day visitors arrived via the land crossings (33% decrease on last year) and about 1,600 by air (30% less than last year).

January-February 2013

In January-February 2014, 473,000 visitors arrived in Israel, 5% more than the same period in 2013, 2% more than 2012 and 1% more than 2011. Of these, 421,000 were tourists, 20% more than 2013 and 8% more than 2011-2. 358,000 entries were by air, 18% more than the same period in 2013. 51,000 day visitors came through the border crossings, of whom about half (14,000) arrived on cruise ships, 71% less that the same period in 2013. 34,000 came through the border with Jordan (25% decrease) and about 3,600 entries were by air (27% decrease).

Tourism Minister Dr. Uzi Landau: “January and February were an excellent start to the tourism year 2014, following on from the record-breaking numbers of incoming tourists in 2013. We are working intensively to improve the quality of the tourism product, to effectively market Israel around the world and to strengthen domestic tourism so that 2014 will also close as a record year for tourism.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)