Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reportedthat tourism reached an all-time high in February, with 244,000 recorded visitor entries, 5% more than in February 2013.
The report noted that there were 221,500 tourists (visitors staying for more than one night), 21% more than February 2013, and 11% and 12% more than February 2012 and 2011 in the corresponding month. 191,000 entries were recorded by air, 19% more than February 2013, of which 6,800 arrived on direct flights to Eilat (45% more than February 2013).
31,000 tourists came through the border crossings, 34% more than February 2013; 22,000 came through the border with Jordan (36% increase) and about 8,000 through Taba to Eilat (30% more than last February). 22,000 entries were recorded by day visitors, 55% less than February 2013. Of these, 7,000 arrived on cruise ships, 73% less than last February. (Last year, many cruise ships called in Eilat). 13,000 day visitors arrived via the land crossings (33% decrease on last year) and about 1,600 by air (30% less than last year).
According to the report there were 473,000 visitor entries in January-February 2014, up 5% over the corresponding period in 2013, 2% more than 2012 and 1% more than 2011. Of these, 421,000 were tourists, 20% more than 2013 and 8% more than 2011-2. 358,000 entries were by air, 18% more than the same period in 2013. 51,000 day visitors came through the border crossings, of whom about half (14,000) arrived on cruise ships, 71% less that the same period in 2013. 34,000 came through the border with Jordan (25% decrease) and about 3,600 entries were by air (27% decrease).
