Jewish New Year Begins with Dramatic Rise in Tourism to Israel

Israel’s tourism industry has bounced back after a slump in the wake of Operation Protective Edge. 

Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Israel has experienced a significant increase in tourism in recent months since suffering a slow-down in 2014 following Operation Protective Edge last summer. Data shows that the industry is recovering and almost back to the high rate of tourism experienced during 2013.

“The recovery trend after Operation Protective Edge continues apace,” Tourism Minister Yariv Levin stated. “I am pleased to see that the statistics show an increase of over 40 percent in comparison to 2014, and an almost complete return to the 2013 numbers. With the increase in the marketing budget, I have given the go-ahead to aggressive and focused marketing campaigns for the winter season in order to secure this welcomed upward trend. I am convinced that, with hard work, we can see an increase in…tourism to Israel.”

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), over 233,000 tourist entries were recorded in August 2015, which is 42 percent more than in August 2014 and only three percent less than August 2013.

Since the beginning of 2015, 1.88 million tourists visited Israel, eight percent fewer than the same period in 2014, prior to the Gaza war, and only two percent fewer than in 2013.

Israel has a rich and diverse tourist scene, and the prestigious Travel and Leisure magazine recently ranked Jerusalem, its capital, among the top 10 travel destinations.

By: Max Gelber, United with Israel