Spokesperson's OfficeMinistry of Tourism
www.tourism.gov.il
Reference: 2006-0005-414
3 Sivan 5766

30 May 2006

Press Release

Tourism to Israel Jumps 30 Per Cent in January-April 2006
695,000 Visitors Enter the Country in First Four Months of the Year

695,000 tourists entered Israel in the period January-April 2006, a 30 per
cent rise over the same period last year. Tourist traffic from North America
surged 34 per cent compared to the first four months of 2005. 174,000
visitors arrived from the United States (up 42 per cent) making that country
the largest source of tourism to Israel.

"30 per cent growth in tourism is encouraging, and only emphasizes the need
for further investment in the industry to realize our goal of bringing three
million visitors to the country this year," says Israeli Minister of Tourism
Isaac Herzog.

Significant increases in tourism were recorded from the following countries:
Russia (+48 per cent), Ukraine (+41 per cent), Italy (+30 per cent), Austria
(+70 per cent) and the United Kingdom (+26 per cent).