Israel Improves Incoming Tourism

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After the six-month mark of 2009 there are now some statistics on tourism to Israel. I can’t say that I totally trust these numbers or at least as far as the way they are affecting the field of guiding.

Despite the gloabl recession of the last two years it seems that tourism is only down a little this year. Just for the month of July the number (252.000) is a mere 4% below July of 2008 (262.000) as compared to July 2007 – 214.000.

Over the years of living in Israel and working as a guide, I have leaned to take these numbers with a pinch of salt. These numbers may not reflect actual tourists, but rather people coming in. No doubt the majority are tourists, but there are also a great number of Jews coming in from around the world to visit family. They are all welcome.

We have also in the later years seen an increase in the number of visitors from markets new to Israel, such as Europeans from areas once under Soviet control or influence. The economies of these countries seem to have been less hit by the recent recession. At the same time there is an large untapped market from these countries.

Another market that seems to be coming back after a hiatus of almost 10 years are the Scandinavians. This tourism is directed more to Eilat,

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Israel’s foremost beach town on the shores of the Red Sea. Eilat has for many years been a great attraction to these countries, due to its free living and the great variety of water activities. This is testified with the new flights by the Finnish airline Aurinkomatkat to Eilat. Maybe other Scandinavian airlines will follow suit.

Apparently the present Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov is expecting a rise in tourism in the coming months. So am I, as there is always a rise in tourism during the months of October and November. He is apparently also making plans for adding 2500 hotel rooms across the country and to be actively involved in increasing tourism to Israel to 5 million by 2015.

As an active guide I welcome any increase in tourism. I only ask of the Ministry not only to make plans and build hotel rooms, but also to be concerned with infrastructure to promote tourism, such as decent parking places for busses and private guidedcars, especially in Jerusalem. As Jewish as we are, we cannot ever forget that the backbone of tourism to Israel has and always will be the Christian pilgrim.

For a slightly different view on tourism to Israel