Tourist entries to Israel hit a three-year peak of 135,900 in April, up 28%, compared with March, and up 93.3%, compared with April 2003, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.
121,500 tourists reached Israel by air, 28.6% more than in March, and 83% more than in April 2003. Tourism in April 2003 was affected by the war in Iraq.
Central Bureau of Statistics figures show 433,600 tourist entries in January-April 2004, 85.7% more than in the corresponding period last year. The comparison is misleading, however, since war in Iraq hurt tourism to Israel badly in January-April 2003.
Trend figures show that tourist entries averaged 102,000 per month, with an average monthly growth rate of 2.4%, amounting to 30% in annual terms.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on May 17, 2004