The Central Bureau of Statistics ( CBS ) and Ministry of Tourism said last week that 1.3 million tourists visited Israel between January and August this year. The number of visits is 25% higher than the parallel period in 2004.
According to the ministry and the CBS 305,000 tourists arrived from the United States in the first eight months of 2005, a rise of more than 19% compared to the same period in 2004.
Outstanding increases in the number of tourists were also recorded from : France, the UK, Korea, Brazil and Greece.
The ministry noted that above average increases in incoming tourist were registered from the following countries: Germany - 64,500 arrived, a 32% increase over January to August 2004, Italy - 46,800, a 70% increase over January to August 2004 and Spain - 30,600, increase of 124% over 2004.
