250,000 TOURISTS VISITED ISRAEL IN APRIL 2009

Israel Ministry of Tourism Press Release

19 May 2009

  

250,000 TOURISTS VISITED ISRAEL IN APRIL 2009:

13% LESS THAN APRIL 2008 AND

23% MORE THAN APRIL 2007

Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov: "The increased marketing activities that the Tourism Ministry will launch in the coming weeks are designed to further reduce the decline and bring us back to the achievements recorded in 2008."

The decrease in incoming tourism to Israel is slowing down: in April 2009, 252,000 tourists visited Israel – a decrease of 13% on April 2008 (290,000) and an increase of 23% compared to April 2007 (200,000). It should be noted that the average decrease in incoming tourism over the first quarter of 2009 (January – March) stands at 25%.

 

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 222,000 of incoming tourists stayed at least one night in Israel (a decrease of 13% compared to April 2008). 29,000 were day visitors (a decrease of 17% compared to April 2008). A significant increase was recorded in the number of tourists arriving on cruises – 5,200 in April 2009 which represents an increase of 53% over 2008.

 

Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov : "Despite the effects of the global economic crisis and the Gaza operation, the Tourism Ministry has succeeded in slowing down the sharp declines in incoming tourism, thanks to intensive marketing activities. The Tourism Ministry will invest more than 90 million shekel in marketing activities around the world targeted at specific market segments, of which 30 million shekel has been allocated for the Catholic market following the Papal visit. These activities are designed to further reduce the decline as we move toward 2010 and bring us back to the achievements recorded in 2008, which was a record year for incoming tourism to Israel."

More than 735,000 tourists have visited Israel between the months of January to April 2009, 22% less than the same period last year (938,500) but an increase of 13% over the same period in 2007 (653,200).