CBS: over 2 million tourists entered during January-August 2008

This is an increase of 37% over the same period last year. For every extra 100,000 tourists arriving in Israel, 4,000 new jobs are created
 
In August 2008, 264,000 tourists visited Israel, an increase of 18% over August 2007 and 2% more than August 2000, Israel's record year for tourism. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), over 2 million tourists havevisited Israel in the eight months period, January-August 2008, an increase of 37% over the same period last year. The CBS noted that 1.4 million tourists arrived by air (23% more than in 2007). 1.7 million of the visitor arrivals are tourists - 31% morethan in 2007 and about a quarter of a million are one-day visitors, 2.5 times more than the same period last year.
 
Tourism Minister Ruhama Avraham Balila noted in a press release that for every extra 100,000 tourists arriving in Israel, 4,000 new jobs are created and that The ministry will continue to encourage professional training courses in the varioustourism-related industries.