Tourism Minister Dr. Uzi Landau explains “Tourism is an essential economic growth engine. An increase in the number of tourists means jobs in the periphery and income for the state coffers. A downturn in the number of tourists means many thousands of unemployed within the year, as well as the loss of income for the state in the immediate and short-term. Tourism brings in about 30 billion NIS a year and represents a critical factor in stabilizing the periphery. I am committed to working with all my strength in order to prevent the VAT tax on tourism – for the sake of the 200,000 workers in the industry, for the sake of the periphery and for the sake of the state coffers.”

The ministry reports a moderate increase in incoming tourism after the significant decreases following Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012: 354,000 visitors entered Israel in April 2013, similar to April 2012 and 19% more than in 2011 and 12% more than 2010. Of these, 300,000 were tourists, 1% more than in April 2012, 15% more than in April 2011 and 12% more than April 2010. 254,000 entries were by air (2% more than in April 2012 and higher than April 2011 and 2010), of which 8,500 were direct flights into Eilat and Uvda (for vacations in Eilat), 3% less than in April 2012. 46,000 arrived through the border crossings, 1% more than April 2012; 34,000 came through the border with Jordan (8% decrease) and 12,000 through Taba and Eilat (15% less than last April).

54,000 entries were recorded by day visitors, 8% less than April 2012.Of these, 20,000 arrived on cruise ships (29% less than last April). 30,000 arrived via the land crossings (14% increase) and about 3,100 by air (similar to last April).

March-April 2013

This year the Pesach and Easter fell in March, last year they fell in April. Therefore, a more meaningful comparison is between March-April combined, which registered a moderate increase in incoming tourism over the same period in 2012. In March-April 2013, 655,000 visitors arrived in Israel, 2% more than the same period in 2012, 14% more than 2011 and 4% more than 2010. Of these, 551,000 were tourists, 1% more than 2012 and 8% more than 2011 and 5% more than 2010.

January-April 2013

In the first third of 2013, 1.1 million visitors arrived in Israel, similar to the same period in 2012, 6% more than 2011 and 4% more than 2010. Of these, 903,000 were tourists, 3% less than 2012, similar to 2011 and 4% more than 2010. 778,000 came by air, 2% less than in 2012.

About 202,000 entries were day visitors, 17% more than the same period last year. Of these about half – 91,000 – came on cruise ships, 35% more than in 2012. 101,000 came via the border crossings (4% more than 2012) and 11,000 by air (14% increase).

Tourism Ministry officials believe that the recovery in incoming tourism can be attributed to the increase in marketing activity around the world at a cost of about 34 million NIS immediately after the conclusion of Operation Pillar of Defense. During the last two months, the ministry has launched a multi-media campaign in the United States and Russia to encourage tourism to Israel. In addition, there has been an increase in marketing activities in many countries including, among others, Germany, France, Britain, Scandinavia and Holland.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)