Statistics bureau notes record high tourism rates in January 2008 - Haaretz

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Last update - 18:48 18/02/2008

Statistics bureau notes record high tourism rates in January 2008

By Irit Rosenblum, TheMarker Correspondent

Tags: Israel, January, Tourism

The year 2008 may have started with blues in the capital market, but hotels are applauding. Incoming tourism broke all records, with 182,000 tourists visiting Israel in January, up 57% from the year before, when 116,000 arrived.

The previous record had been January 2000, when nearly 170,000 tourists came to Israel. Tourism industry sources estimate that for the year, about 1.9 million people will visit the country.

"Despite the assassination of [Hezbollah commander Imad] Mughniyah, the feeling is that it's business as usual and the traffic continues to flow," commented Shmuel Marom, chairman of the Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association. However, if fighting erupts on Israel's northern borders, it could dampen the momentum, he admits.

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Of the total, 29,000 of the incoming visitors in January arrived by land, crossing from Egypt through Taba, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. These were mostly "day visitors" from Eastern Europe.

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1.	Great news; keep `em coming!	20:06	\|	Conroy	18/02/08

2.	conroy	20:43	\|	alan	18/02/08

3.	alan	21:10	\|	Jake	18/02/08

4.	Alan!	21:54	\|	Jonas	18/02/08

5.	Alan - had a bad experience here?	23:53	\|	Margie in Tel Aviv	18/02/08

6.	Alan go visit Hawaii instead	00:09	\|	Conroy	19/02/08

7.	We bought plane tickets for Augus already, can`t wait!	22:56	\|	Benjamina	19/02/08

8.	Margie	23:01	\|	Sara	19/02/08

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