The Ministry of Tourism announced on Thursday that Israel aims to double the number of foreign tourists to 4 million over the next five years by spending $250 million on marketing.

Tourism is a key industry for Israel, but tourism numbers fell during the July-August war with Hezbollah in the north of Israel and southern Lebanon.

Some 1.9 million tourists visited Israel in 2005 and numbers have begun to rise again since the war ended.

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Consultants Ernst & Young have now presented Israel with its first comprehensive tourism plan to try to significantly boost visitor numbers, the ministry said in a statement.

The Ernst & Young report said that despite Israel's political and security situation, Israel could launch a successful campaign by focusing on eight countries including the United States, Britain, Russia and China.

Other recommendations included making it easier for commercial and charter flights to come to Israel and revamping hotels by attracting international hotel chains and more foreign investment in the industry.

"The ministry will implement the plan by spending $50 million a year on a worldwide marketing campaign," a spokeswoman
for Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog said.

The budget will more than double the amount of money Israel has spent in past years on marketing.