2013: Record year for tourism
YNet News reported that of the 3.5 million visitors, about 2.6 million arrived by air (73%) – a 4% increase from 2012. Some 381,000 tourists came in through border crossings (11%) – a 6% drop from 2012. Some 578,000 entries (16%) were made by one-day visitors – a 9% drop, 257,000 of them arrived as part of a cruise – a 2% increase from 2012.
As always, most tourists arrived from the United States – about 623,000 Americans, who make up 18% of Israel's incoming tourism (a 1% increase from 2012). Russia came in second with 603,000 tourists (a 3% increase from 2012), followed by France with some 315,000 tourists (a 5% increase from 2012). The most visited city in Israel is Jerusalem, which was toured by 75% of tourists. Tel Aviv came in second with 64%, followed by the Dead Sea area (51%), Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee (44%) and Nazareth (35%). The most visited sites are led by the Western Wall (68%), followed by the Jewish Quarter (64%), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (57%), Via Dolorosa (55%) and the Mount of Olives (53%).
Read the Ynet News article, January 10, 2014
Photo credit: The Joshua Fund
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you. Psalm 122:6 (NKJV)
