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