According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, a record-breaking 382,000 visitor entries were recorded in Israel in May 2014, 13% more than May 2013, 19% more than May 2012 and 24% more than May 2011. Of these visitor entries, a record-breaking 346,000 were tourists (staying more than one night), 22% more than May 2013, and 28% and 29% more than May 2012 and 2011 respectively.

292,000 entries were by air, 21% more than May 2013, of which 2,100 arrived on direct flights to Eilat (42% less than May 2013). 54,000 tourists came through the border crossings, 27% more than May 2013; 40,000 came through the border with Jordan (35% increase) and about 13,000 through Taba to Eilat (7% more than last May).

36,000 entries were recorded by day visitors, 33% less than May 2013. Of these, 9,700 arrived on cruise ships, 31% less than last May. 20,000 day visitors arrived by air (16% more than last year) and about 6,100 came via the land crossings (72% decrease on last year).

Tourism Minister Dr. Uzi Landau stated “The first five months of 2014 brings new tourism records and upward trends. We hope that the record for incoming tourism into Israel will again be broken this year. The recent visit of Pope Francis caused a significant spike in incoming tourism, alongside the marketing work of the ministry in increasing Christian tourism, as well as cultural tourism. Pride week will also bring gay tourism into Israel, for the marches and festivals. Those that come to Israel will discover a country not only blessed with so many holy sites, but also spectacular landscapes, rich in history, culture and night life.”

January-May 2014

In January-May 2014, 1.5 million visitors arrived in Israel (including day visitors), 7% more than the same period in 2013, 8% more than 2012 and 14% more than 2011. Of these, 1.4 million were tourists, 17% more than 2013 and 16% and 19% more than 2012 and 2011 respectively. 1.2 million entries were by air, 42% less than the same period in 2013 and 2012. 149,000 day visitors entered Israel, 48% less than the same period in 2013. Of these, 45,000 arrived on cruise ships (51% decrease); 66,000 came through the border crossings (46% decrease) and about 29,000 entries were by air (3% increase).
.
Due to a decrease in tourism to Eilat, an inter-ministerial committee has been established to encourage tourism and flights into the resort.

Tourism Minister Director-General Amir Halevy added “Eilat is a significant tourism resort and we must be primed to match the resort’s development to the changes in the local and international tourism market. The Tourism Ministry has invested over NIS 100 million in Eilat in recent years, in addition to the tens of millions of shekel in marketing the resort around the world. Now is the time for full cooperation between all the relevant tourism bodies to ensure that we move forward with the resort.”

The committee, which will be chaired by Deputy Director of the Tourism Ministry’s Marketing Administration Pini Shani, was established in order to match the city’s marketing and transportation to the dynamic characteristics of the tourism market in Israel and internationally. One of the latest factors to adversely impact on tourism to Eilat is the open skies policy that facilitates overseas vacations for many more Israelis as a result of lower airfares.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)