May 12, 2014

FOUR NEW RECORDS FOR INCOMING TOURISM:

APRIL 2014 (COMPARED TO APRIL 2013):

9% INCREASE IN VISITOR ENTRIES

14% INCREASE IN TOURIST ENTRIES

JANUARY - APRIL 2014 (COMPARED TO SAME PERIOD 2013):

5% INCREASE IN VISITOR ENTRIES

16% IN TOURIST ENTRIES



Tourism Minister Dr. Uzi Landau: "The first quarter of 2014 brings with it

new tourism records and upward trends. we hope that the record for incoming

tourism into Israel will be broken again this year, as in the previous two

years. We anticipate that the visit of Pope Francis at the end of May will

cause a significant spike in incoming tourism and we welcome the faithful

with open arms. Those that come to Israel will discover a country not only

blessed with so many holy sites, but also spectacular landscapes, rich in

history, culture and night life. "



According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, a record-breaking 385,000

visitor entries were recorded in Israel in April 2014, 9% more than April

2013, 5% more than April 2012 and 12% more than April 2011. Of these visitor

entries, a record-breaking 342,000 were tourists (staying more than one

night), 14% more than April 2013, and 16% and 31% more than April 2012 and

2011 respectively.



In order to neutralize the impact of the Passover and Easter holidays, the

statistics for March-April 2014 were also examined: 687,000 visitors came in

that two month period, 5% more than the same period last year. Of these,

625,000 were tourists, 14% more than the same period last year.



296,000 entries were by air, 16% more than April 2013, of which 9,500

arrived on direct flights to Eilat (12% more than April 2013) . 46,000

tourists came through the border crossings, 1% less than April 2013; 36,000

came through the border with Jordan (6% increase) and about 10,000 through

Taba to Eilat (19% more than last April).



43,000 entries were recorded by day visitors, 20% less than April 2013. Of

these, 24,000 arrived on cruise ships, 19 more than last April. 16,000 day

visitors arrived via the land crossings (48% decrease on last year) and

about 3,100 by air (similar to last year).





January-April 2014



In January-April 2014, 1.16 million visitors arrived in Israel (including

day visitors), 5% more than the same period in 2013, 5% more than 2012 and

9% more than 2011. Of these, 1.05 million were tourists, 16% more than 2013

and 12% and 21% more than 2012 and 2011 respectively. 900,000 entries were

by air, 16% more than the same period in 2013. 113,000 day visitors entered

Israel, 44% less than the same period in 2013. Of these, 45,000 arrived on

cruise ships (51% decrease); 60,000 came through the border (41% decrease)

and about 9,000 entries were by air (18% decrease).

.

Lydia Weitzman

Foreign Press Adviser to the Ministry of Tourism

052-3584395

israeltourismministry@gmail.com