According to Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, March 2017 saw 293,000 tourist entries to Israel, a 22% increase over March 2016. In the three months January-March 2017, 739,000 tourist entries were recorded, a 24% increase over the same period last year. During this first quarter in 2017, tourism contributed more than $1.1 billion to the Israeli economy. The increase in tourism’s contribution to the economy in this period, compared with the first quarter in 2016, was about $200 million, with an additional 5,000 jobs created in the tourism industry.

Minister Levin said in a statement: “For the past few consecutive months, we are witnessing record highs in incoming tourism and I am pleased that March is also a record month for tourist entries. This is not coincidence – this is a result of policy. We are implementing marketing activities and taking innovative steps to brand Israel and we are bringing new airlines and routes into the country – and all this is proving itself, month after month.

“This significant increase is making a significant contribution to the Israeli economy and to the labor market. Israel is an attractive and varied tourism destination and we are proving that if we work correctly, it is possible to bring tourists here. I am convinced that if we continue on this path, we will see significant increases in incoming tourism in the future.”