An all-time record for tourist entries in July 2013: according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 246,000 tourists (staying more than one night) entered Israel in July 2013, 2% more than July 2012, 4% more than in 2011 and 3% more than in 2010. However, there was a slight decrease in the number of visitor entries in July 2013: 294,000, 1% less than July 2012, but 7% more than July 2011 and 5% more than in 2011.

54,000 entries were recorded by day visitors, 24% more than June 2012.Of these, 16,000 arrived on cruise ships (52% more than last June). 16,000 day visitors arrived via the land crossings (14% decrease on June 2012) and about 22,000 by air (51% more than last June). The decrease in visitor entries can be attributed primarily to the decrease in day visitors crossing into Israel from Sinai at Taba into Eilat (51% less than in July 2012).

220,000 entries were by air (3% more than July 2012 and higher than 2011 and 2010). 26,000 arrived through the border crossings, 8% less than July 2012; 20,000 came through the border with Jordan (14% decrease) and about 8,000 through Taba and Eilat (51% less than last July).

48,000 entries were recorded by day visitors, 13% less than July 2012.Of these, 17,500 arrived on cruise ships (11% more than last July). 10,000 day visitors arrived via the land crossings (56% decrease on July 2012) and about 20,000 by air (25% more than last July).

January-July 2013

Since the beginning of 2013 through July, more than 2 million visitors arrived in Israel, 1% more than the same period in 2012, 8% more than 2011 and 6% more than 2010. This represents another record figure for the months Jan-July, breaking the previous record from 2012. Of these entries, 1.7 million were tourists, 1% less than 2012, 2% more than 2011 and 6% more than 2010. 1.4 million entries were recorded by air, a slight increase of 0.4% compared to the same period in 2012.

About 357,000 entries were day visitors, 10% more than the same period last year. Of these entries, about 139,000 came on cruise ships, 27% more than in 2012. 148,000 came via the border crossings (9% less than 2012) and 70,000 by air (34% increase).

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)