Last year, Israel was visited by 4.5 million tourists, an 11% increase compared to the previous year, announced the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics; 4.5 million tourists visited Israel in 2019, an 11% increase compared to 2018. Also, the number of Romanians who visited this country in 2019 increased by 13% compared to the previous year, reaching 120,000 people.
For the year 2020, the Israel Ministry of Tourism aims to exceed the threshold of 130,000 Romanian tourists.
Pilgrimages remain the main reasons for traveling to Israel, with nearly 60% of all trips to Israel aimed at visiting holy sites. About 20% of Romanian tourists travel for circuits and another approximately 20% for business tourism, visiting relatives, or relaxation.
56% of all trips to Israel are organized through a travel agency and 40% are organized individually.
The most visited places in Israel are Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the Dead Sea.
In 2019, 25.8 million overnight stays were recorded, nearly half of which were made by foreign tourists.
The Israel Ministry of Tourism supports hotel developers. The Israel Ministry of Tourism also offers a grant program to encourage developers to open hotels, including supporting the conversion of office buildings into hotels, this method being much faster than building new structures from scratch.
Nearly 100 weekly flights now connect Tel Aviv and Eilat to the main airports in Romania – Bucharest, Timisoara, Cluj, Iasi, and Sibiu. 2019 compared to 2016 recorded a 157% increase in Romanian tourists, and the outlook remains extremely positive for 2020, when over 135,000 Romanian tourists are expected at the destination.
Source: Economica
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tourists visited Israel in 2019?
In 2019, Israel was visited by a record 4.5 million tourists, marking an 11% increase compared to the previous year.
What are the main reasons Romanians visit Israel?
Nearly 60% of Romanian tourists travel for pilgrimages to holy sites, while the remainder opt for circuits, business, or relaxation.
What facilities does the Israeli state offer for hotel development?
The Ministry of Tourism offers grants for opening hotels and supports the conversion of office buildings into accommodation units for rapid expansion.