Tourist entries to Israel rose by 25% in the first quarter of 2005, compared with the corresponding quarter of 2004, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported last week. 372,500 tourists entered Israel during the first quarter, including 324,000 by air. 146,600 tourists entered Israel in March.
An average of 121,000 tourists entered Israeli by air each month during the first quarter of the year, compared with a monthly average of 112,000 in the fourth quarter of 2004, a seasonally adjusted increase of 8%.
Trend figures indicate an annualized 29% increase in tourist entries by air in the first quarter, after rising by an annualized 13% in the preceding quarter.
The Central Bureau of Statistics also reported that 585,000 Israeli traveled overseas during the first quarter of 2005, 4% less than during the first quarter of last year. Departures by air fell by 4% to 504,000. 224,000 Israelis traveled abroad in March.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on April 17, 2005