Jerusalem – Israel Expects 2010 To be Record Year For Tourism

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    An Israeli tour guide holds a sign offering free tours outside Jerusalem's Old City, Monday, Dec. 27, 2010. Israel expects 2010 to be a record year for tourism, with 3.4 million visitors. Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov said in a statement Monday that this year's projected number is 26 percent higher than last year and 14 percent higher than 2008, the last record-setting year. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)Jerusalem – Israel says 2010 is shaping up to be a record year for its tourism.

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    Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov announced Monday that preliminary estimates show Israel received 3.45 million visitors this year.

    That’s 14 percent higher than the previous record of about 3 million tourists in 2008. Tourism slid last year during the global economic crisis.

    The increase reflects improved security in Israel, where the Israeli-Palestinian violence last decade sent tourist numbers plummeting.

    Misezhnikov said about one-fifth of the tourists came from the United States, followed by visitors from Russia, France, the United Kingdom and Germany. More than two-thirds were Christian and 23 percent were Jewish.

    The ministry expects to have final 2010 numbers in January.


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