THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION UNIT
Increase in Jewish Youth coming to Israel on Jewish Agency Summer Programs

After 3 years of declining educational tourism in Israel; 3,000 youths will
arrive by this summer; 1,200 have already arrived.. The Jewish Agency is
organizing a Happening for the visitors Thursday, at the Israel Museum.

After 3 years of serious decline in the Israeli educational tourism, a wave
of optimism is rising. Zvi Lev-Ran, of the Jewish Agency's Educational
Department, reports that this summer the highest number of youth, 3,000 will
arrive this summer on Jewish Agency "Israel Experience " programs.This
represents a 100% increase over last year's number.

Before the start of the so-called Intifada, about 13,000 youth came every
summer on Jewish Agency "Israel Experience" programs. "Though there is
still a gap between this year's figures and those of normal years, this
summer's trend is a positive sign," says Lev-Ran. In addition Lev-Ran says
that the fact that youth from the Diaspora are returning will give the
Jewish Agency the opportunity to market their programs abroad for next year.