354,000 tourists visited Israel during the month, which was 19% up on last year, and 12% up on the previous highest ever April, back in 2010. In addition, the number of tourists that stayed more than one night – some 296,000 – smashed the previous record April month of 2010 by some 11%.

The total number of visitors who have now visited Israel in the first third of the year has passed one million, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. This is 6% up on last year, and 4% up on the previous record year, 2010.

Those first 4 months numbers also include an increase in those arriving by air, with some 793,000 entries (3% up on the same period last year) and around 140,000 tourists crossed into Israel by land, 8% up on last year.

If you’re not already here or on your way, what are you waiting for???

A total of 388,900 tourists have arrived in Israel since the start of 2012, which is almost identical to last year, when 388,500 tourists arrived in Israel.

Based on Central Bureau of Statistics data, there was a significant increase in tourism to Israel: 32,000 entries were day visitors, 55% more than February 2011; 21,300 entries were recorded through land borders – 4 times the amount of February 2011, which was largely down due to the uprising in Egypt. Showing the big ease in tensions, there were 8100 entries recorded from Taba to Eilat – 5 times the amount of February 2011.

There is also a stable trend in flights to Israel, with the 172,000 arrivals in February 2012 actually 1% down on February 2011. Since the beginning of 2012, 329,000 tourists have arrived by air, which is 1% up on the same period last year.

With a long hot summer heading for these parts, Israel could well be on its way to another record breaking year!

And if you’re looking for a reason to come, here are ten awesome reasons to visit Israel in 2012!

In January 2012, some 189,000 tourists visited Israel, almost identical to last year’s numbers, and 15% up on January 2010 – which was Israel’s record year for tourism.

There was also an increase of some 4% on the number of tourists arriving by air, with some 157,000 visits. And what is a boost for Eilat’s re-marketing efforts as a winter sun destination, some 5,400 tourists arrived by direct flights to Ovda and Eilat, which is up 15% on January 2011.

The situation in Egypt and Syria has not helped the number of day visitors, down about 27% compared to 2011. We guess those kind of visitors may well steer clear while the troubles in the region continue.

Our pal over at the Ministry of Tourism, Stas Misezhnikov, had this to say:

The year 2012 opened with vigorous and intensive work by the Tourism Ministry to achieve Israel’s tourism potential, by adjusting vacation cost and creating marketing activities to maintain Israel’s image as an attractive tourism destination. This activity will allow us to meet our target for the year 2012 – 4 million tourists and as a result, an increase in revenue for the economy and the number of employees in the tourism industry.

Come on you 4 million! If you still need convincing, here are ten awesome reasons to visit Israel in 2012!

2012 really does look set to be another cracking year, and we’ve compiled a list of some very good reasons why you should be on your way to the Holy Land…

Legendary Holy Land attractions

With such an amazing collection of top tourist attractions (check out our top ten must-sees in Israel) in such a small country, you can pack in so much sight-seeing, if that’s what tickles your fancy. And let’s face it, whatever your budget or faith, how could you contemplate a visit to the Holy Land without stopping by at Jerusalem’s Old City, having a float in the Dead Sea, or tasting some of Tel Aviv’s awesome culture, beaches and nightlife…and then there’s the beauty of the Galilee, the rugged and magnificent Golan Heights, the majestic deserts of the south…shall we go on?

Top class entertainment, art & culture

With Israel getting ever more popular, international artists are flocking to the Holy Land like never before (for music concerts, see below). For pure entertainment you might want to try and catch either the Fuerza Bruta shows (in February) or the delightful Cirque du Soleil (in August). Or how about the world’s most popular opera Carmen performed by international opera stars at the foot of Masada in the Dead Sea? Alternatively, we’d highly recommend some of the amazing Israeli festivals and shows that happen throughout the year, including the alternative theater of the magical Akko Festival, and the annual Klezmer festival in Safed. Just click through to our art and culture section to see what you’re missing…

Mediterranean sunshine

What can we say about the weather that hasn’t been said before? With roughly 300 days of sunshine every year, the chances of you catching some decent weather are very good. The winters in Israel aren’t really winters (though the locals will try and convince you otherwise!), at least for those of us from colder climes, though the summers can be extremely hot and humid. Click here to see a breakdown of the temperatures in Israel throughout the year – and start getting jealous…

Yummylicious food

Israel has turned into a gastronomic wonder, and the pure range of options available in Israel these days is enough to satisfy the hungriest and pickiest of souls. We’d highly recommend trying some of the local delicacies (here are the five top Israeli foods you MUST try), and of course, some legendary felafel and hummus has to be on your menu! If you prefer your food a little refined, here are the best restaurants, pubs and cafes in Tel Aviv of 2011, all of which are well worth checking out. Yep, hungry is certainly one thing you won’t be when returning home from a trip to Israel.

Music concerts

2012 looks like being another star-packed year of international names hitting the stages of Israel. Last year saw, among others, Justin Bieber, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon, while this year it looks like a flood of big names will be appearing; the Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Scorpions have already confirmed, and there are strong rumors that Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and Lady Gaga will be popping over. There are also a huge selection of Israeli music festivals in exotic locations throughout the year, including the Red Sea Jazz Festival (in January and August), the Tamar Festival near the Dead Sea, and the Desert Moon Nights Festival. Your ears will be well fed.

Super GLBT-friendly

Recently voted the Best Gay City in the world, Tel Aviv is without doubt the most liberal and accepting city in the Middle East. Pretty much anything goes in Tel Aviv (though it’s not exactly “in your face”), and while it’s definitely NOT the same for Jerusalem, a much more modest and spiritual city, you have to admire a country that accepts so easily others of a different sexual persuasion, especially considering its location in the world…

The Locals

We’ll be honest, it often takes time to get used to the prickly, somewhat aggressive behavior of locals. The slapping down of your change on the counter when buying something can be a little disconcerting, especially when coupled with a distinct lack of a please or thank you. But underneath that prickly exterior lies a generous and warm soul (usually!), and an inbuilt desire for hospitality that may well tug hard at your heart. Give ‘em a chance and you might just like ‘em!

The Shopping

With an ever-growing array of Israeli designers and boutique shops to browse, some of the streets in Israel have truly become a shopper’s delight. Shopping in Israel has definitely taken a step in the right direction, with a collection of modern shopping malls  and big name international brands, including H&M, Benetton, Burberry and Gap arriving in the last couple of years. We recommend you check out our friends at DreedTea for some very cool updates on the fashion scene and shops in Tel Aviv. Alternatively, if designer price tags and air-conditioning aren’t for you, you could always head off to some of the Middle East’s coolest street markets to try out your haggling skills.

Breathtaking vistas

The Holy Land is absolutely one place you don’t want to forget your camera, or run short of batteries. Some of the views you can see will simply take your breath away – and leave you thanking the stars for digital cameras (no more film to run out of!). From the vistas of the north, including amazing views of the Golan Heights from places like the magical Nimrod Fortress, to rooftop views of the Old City from the ramparts of the Tower of David in Jerusalem, to the lunar-type landscapes of the Dead Sea region best seen from the mountain top remains of the legendary Masada fortress, you won’t fail to be impressed!

Sports galore

If you love your sports, you’ll love some of the things you can experience in the Holy Land. If you’re a runner you could take part in the Jerusalem Marathon, one of the most inspiring runs in the world, or the Tel Aviv Marathon or 10km Night Run, or even the Sea of Galilee Marathon. And with the in-built Israeli penchant for excitement, you might be surprised to hear of some of the more extreme sports readily available: paragliding in the Galilee, kite-surfing in Tel Aviv, rappelling down the Ramon Crater, and even snow-boarding down Mount Hermon. Thrill-seekers should be more than thrilled with that little lot!

So, what are you waiting for??

OK, OK, if you’ve got four minutes and still need convincing this video is definitely worth a watch…and might just be the clincher!

Looking forward to seeing you in Israel!

Those numbers may seem a little disappointing following the record year that was 2010, but you also have to take into account the Middle East’s turmoil throughout the year, which undoubtedly had an influence on numbers. A 2% drop over 2010 is a mightily small drop, all things considered.

And there were areas of tourism that had big improvements, such as those visiting the Holy Land on cruise ships (up 41%), a segment that expects to grow rapidly over the coming years.

Despite the small drop, revenues from tourism actually broke new records, with some 35 billion shekels generated. With some 100,000 employed directly within the tourism industry (7.5% of the workforce) the tourism industry is obviously a significant national resource.

Minister of Tourism, Stas Misezhnikov, is as ever optimistic and had this to say:

2012 opened with vigorous and intensive activities by the Ministry of Tourism to reach the full potential of tourism to Israel, starting with accommodation to suit all budgets and marketing aimed at maintaining and strengthening Israel’s image as an attractive tourism destination. This will allow for the opportunity to reach our goal for the year 2012 – 4 million visitors, resulting in an increase in economic revenue and employment in the tourism industry.

These numbers mean that to date, 2011 has seen some 3.1 million visitors to Israel, which is actually a small decrease on the same period last year (2010 was a record year for tourism to Israel). Of those, some 2.6 million stayed for more than one night. Cruise ship day visitors are up some 40% on last year, and look like being the key to 2011 being a record year…

December numbers are expected to be big, as they always are during the holiday season, with many Christian travelers spending Christmas in Israel. It looks like 2011 could be the best year yet, but it ain’t over til the fat lady sings, so…

The increased November numbers come despite the economic situation in the US and Europe, and prove that marketing campaigns from the Tourism Ministry are paying off. Additional investment in hotels is also being made, with six new hotels in Jerusalem, Haifa, Rosh Pina and the Western Galilee, and extensive renovations in many existing hotels.

The Minister of Tourism had this to say:

Improving the tourists’ experience in Israel is at the top of the Ministry of Tourism’s agenda for the coming year, which will also focus on the giving tourists more for their money. Due to the increase in demand for tourism to Israel expected in the coming years, there is a need for more accommodation options necessary to vary the tourism product, while offering various levels of accommodation suitable for all budgets throughout the country. As a result, we can create more choices and options to bring about the reduction of the total cost of a visit in Israel.

Today, our pal Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov is meeting the leaders of COICOM –  the Iberoamerican Confraternity of Christian Communicators, who are here as part of efforts to promote Christian tourism from Latin America to Israel.

With a number of journalists and media professionals in the organization, including Jeter Stanley, a senior producer from the popular Evangelical channel in the United States, and other members broadcasting from over 3000 Evangelical radio stations and 1500 television stations, there is the potential for some BIG publicity for the Holy Land.

With Christian tourism now a crucial component of Israel’s tourism numbers, with 70% of  last year’s 3.45 million tourists to Israel of Christian faith, and half of those pilgrims coming to visit amazing sites such as Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, it’s no surprise to see the Tourism Ministry working hard to foster some good relations with various Christian communities and organizations throughout the world.

Minister of Tourism, Stas Misezhnikov had this to say:

Christian tourism to Israel, along its many denominations, is an important anchor in tourism to Israel of which the Ministry of Tourism has placed a lot of emphasis on marketing. Over the last year, we have increased cooperation with Christian community leaders, especially among Evangelicals, with the goal of meeting the tourism potential of a community of hundreds of millions of believers worldwide.

We say “Welcome to the Holy Land!” – the quicker the better!

Israel actually came in second, coming in behind Italy, and beating out Holland, who came in third.

The National Geographic Traveler Awards in Russia annually picks out the very best destinations, with countries first selected by travel operators and agents, and then the magazine’s readers get to vote on their favorites. This year there were 48 countries to choose from, so well done Israel!

Last year some 550,000 tourists from Russia came to Israel, and those numbers look on target to be beaten in 2011.  A big factor in the rising numbers is the cancellation of the visa needed by Russian citizens to visit the Holy Land.

To all our Russian visitors we say: Добро пожаловать в Израиль!

We’re sure some of these amazing things to see and do in Israel have been a big factor in Israel’s popularity, not just in Russia, but across the world!

This is one of the best we’ve come across, quality stuff from Matthew Brown, a guy who spent some time in Israel and captured some of the faces and moments that make a visit to the Holy Land so memorable.

Spend four minutes out of your day to watch this, you won’t regret it!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Some 3.6 million visitors stopped by in Israel during the Jewish year 5771 (September 2010 – September 2011), which is a big rise of some 17% on the previous year. And perhaps more interestingly, at least for those in the tourism industry, some 3 million of these visitors stayed at least one night.

Which month was the biggest month through the year? With holiday season in Israel usually in full flow during this month, it probably won’t surprise you to hear…October (over 400,000 tourists!).

Cruise passengers stay with their recent impressive trend of being on the increase, with some 208,000 passengers meaning a 68% increase on the previous year.

Most visitors are coming from the United States, with some 630,000 visitors meaning a 19% increase over last year. Close behind, and perhaps more surprisingly, is Russia with 560,000 visitors, a 25% increase on the previous year. France are in third spot, with 290,000 visitors, a 25% increase over last year.

I think we can safely expect similar October numbers to last year as holiday season kicks in big time…and if you’re one of the many thousands coming to Israel in October or after, we wish you an amazing stay (and this is a great place to start your research on what to see and do in Israel)!

The competition will be between the various sites in Israel (here’s our Top 10 sites in Israel, could you pick 7 from them?), with the winners ending up being promoted as the official Seven Wonders of Israel.

The project is actually a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and Israel’s Channel 2 News. The public get to vote for their favorite sites on the Channel 2 Facebook page (all in Hebrew I’m afraid), which could mean anything to anybody (maybe even a few sneaky votes for Itzik’s Felafel Shack?).

Once suggestions are in, a committee made up of members from the Ministry of Tourism, Channel 2 News, tour guides and academics, will select the 15 best sites. The public will then be asked to choose their favorite seven out of the remaining 15. Voting lasts til September 22nd, when the winners will be announced on the 6 o’clock news.

Minister of Tourism, Stas Misezhnikv, had this to say:

This will be the first time that the Israeli public will be able to decide the Seven Wonders of Israel. The competition strengthens the links to Israel’s heritage, increases awareness of the wide range of historical, archaeological, natural, and religious sites in Israel, creating new marketing opportunities to expose these wonders to the rest of the world. I welcome Israelis and foreigners to take part in the competition, making suggestions and voting for their favorites. The Ministry of Tourism will work toward taking advantage of the competition on the internet and on social networks in order to promote Israel as an attractive tourist destination.

The numbers are in for the first seven months of the year and compared to last year’s record breaking year for tourism, 2011 is up on those numbers by some 4%!

The stats released by the Central Bureau of Statistics show that 1.9 million visitors entered Israel and stayed for at least a night.

What is perhaps even more pleasing for those in the tourism industry is that those tourists who visit Israel are showing and expressing their satisfaction, at least according to a survey by Geocartography.

Some 27,000 of the 3.45 million tourists who stopped by in Israel during 2010 were surveyed, and gave high ratings to archaeological sites, personal safety, accommodation facilities, night life and people’s friendliness.

And for those in any doubt, the city that most attracted tourists was, of course, Jerusalem. Israel’s capital city led the way with some 77% of all visitors, while 56% visited Tel Aviv, 51% stopped by at the Dead Sea, 35% headed for Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee, and 33% visited Nazareth.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov was quick to point out that the great numbers were down to “increased budgets and intensive marketing activities”, with revenue from incoming tourism alone adding up to some 8 billion shekels in January – July 2011.