According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 229,000 visitors entered Israel in January 2014, 6% more than January 2013, but lower than the months of January 2011 and 2012. Of these visitor entries, 200,000 were tourists (staying more than one night), 19% more than January 2013, and 6% and 5% more than January 2012 and 2011 – an all-time record for the month.

January was still registering a decrease in day visitors across the Egypt-Israel border, and there was also a significant decrease in the numbers of cruise visitors.

167,000 entries were by air, 16% more than January 2013, of which 6,000 arrived on direct flights to Eilat (66% more than January 2013) . 33,000 came through the border crossings, 39% more than January 2013; 22,000 came through the border with Jordan (27% increase) and about 10,800 through Taba to Eilat (69% more than last January).

29,000 entries were recorded by day visitors, 40% less than January 2013. Of these, 6,700 arrived on cruise ships (69% less than last January). 21,000 day visitors arrived via the land crossings (18% decrease on last year) and about 2,000 by air (23% less than last year).

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)