According to the Central Bureau of Statistics,(CBS) tourist entries to Israel in August 2014 were 32% lower than in the same month in the previous year.
The figure constituted the lowest August number since 2007, a year after the 2006 Second Lebanon War that brought tourism to a halt.
182,000 visitor entries were recorded in August 2014. Entries by air totaled 147,000, 31% fewer than in August 2013, entries by land totaled 17,000 (42% fewer than in August 2013), entries through the border crossings with Jordan totaled 11,000 (down 49%), and entries from Taba (in Sinai) to Eilat totaled 6,000, 19% more than in August 2013.
Tourism Ministry Director-General Amir Halevy said that "The tremendous blow to tourism suffered by the Israeli economy in all areas of Israel as a result of canceled visits is a factor in the economic slowdown."
Halevy added that "the Tourism Ministry is convening all the Israel Government Tourist Office (IGTO) directors from around the world to formulate a plan for attracting tourists back to Israel, who provide jobs to 200,000 people in the country."
