The figures show that 24% of the tourists were Jews and 68% were Christians
Figures released last Thursday, August 11, cover the first half of 2011 show that 1.9 million tourists – 1.6 million of whom were tourists – entered Israel in January-July 2011, 4% more than in the corresponding months of 2010.
274,000 tourists entered in July, 2% fewer than in July last year.
The number of day-tourists in January-July fell 25% to 251,000, due to the slump in tourism to Egypt this year. This figure also includes 102,000 visits by cruise ship passengers, 42% more than in the corresponding months of last year.
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov attributed the stability in the tourism industry to “increased budgets and intensive marketing activities.”
He noted that revenue from incoming tourism alone totaled NIS 8 billion in January – July 2011. The tourism industry directly and indirectly employs 160,000 people.
The figures show that 24% of the tourists were Jews and 68% were Christians.
The average stay was 11 nights, and the average spending per tourist was $1,100, a relatively low figure due to the high proportion of pilgrims. 43% of the tourists were make repeat visits.
77% of the tourists visited Jerusalem, 56% visited Tel Aviv, 51% visited the Dead Sea, 35% visited Tiberias, and 33% visited Nazareth.
