2018: 4 million tourists came to Israel for a visit and contributed revenues of about $ 22 billion

Just before 2018, last year's 4 million tourist visit to Ben Gurion Airport ended this week, an 11% increase over the number of tourists who entered Israel in 2017. Direct revenues from tourism in 2018 amount to about $ 22 billion A rise of about 13% in revenues compared with the previous year According to Ministry of Tourism data, most of the countries have seen an increase in the number of entries to Israel, especially China and Russia, two countries that are in the top ten countries in incoming tourism in Israel, According to the ministry's data, in the first 11 months of the year there were 95,000 tourist arrivals from China, a 9% decline compared to the previous year Same period last year.
The 4 million tourist's visit concludes a year of record-breaking tourism. Israel's direct revenues from incoming tourism in 2018 amount to NIS 22 billion. This is a 13% increase in tourist arrivals compared with the previous year. In addition, the leading market research firm EuroMonitor has crowned Jerusalem as the world's leading tourism city, above any other city. In Israel, Jerusalem has the most visited cities with more than 2 million person-nights.
The Ministry of Tourism has given grants to entrepreneurs to encourage the construction and expansion of hotels totaling NIS 145 million, which helped entrepreneurs build 3,829 new rooms, representing an annual growth of 49% compared with the previous year.
Tourism Ministry Director-General Amir Halevi: "This is the second year in a row that we have been breaking records in the entry of tourists into Israel, and this year we have crossed the threshold of 4 million tourists a year. This is the result of hard and strenuous work in recent years, as part of a revolution in Israel's marketing of the world as a tourist destination. What was considered a fantasy a few years ago is today a reality: Israel is a favorite tourist destination among tourist destinations around the world. "
Tourism Minister Yariv Levin: "The celebration of tourism to Israel in 2018 is the result of a revolution that the Ministry of Tourism is marketing throughout the world, in various campaigns, signing agreements with large companies and travel agencies, and creating ties with airlines. An attractive tourist destination and generates a huge increase in revenues for the State of Israel. "