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Revision as of 08:49, 7 July 2010

Tourism in Israel is one of the country's major sources of income. Israels offer a plethora of historical and religious sites, beach resorts, archaeological tourism, heritage tourism and ecotourism. Israel has the highest number of museums per capita in the world. The most popular paid site is Masada. The largest groups of tourists visit from the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and Germany. Over 2.7 million foreign tourists visited Israel in 2009. The West Bank and East Jerusalem captured from Jordan in 1967, and the Golan Heights captured from Syria, are also popular tourist destination under Israeli control.

Historical, religious and cultural sites

Russian Orthodox Church, Jerusalem
Jaffa Gate
The Arab market in the Old City of Jerusalem
Jerusalem

The United Kingdom banned the use of an advertisement by the Israeli Government Tourist Office that displayed areas in occupied East Jerusalem. The UK Advertising Standards Authority said that "the status of the occupied territory of the West Bank the subject of much international dispute, and because we considered that the ad implied that the part of East Jerusalem featured in the image was part of the state of Israel, we concluded that the ad was likely to mislead."

File:Tel Aviv aerial.jpg
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Safed
Acre
Haifa
Tiberias
Nazareth
  • Jesus's hometown and the site of many of his reported acts and miracles.
  • Starting point for the Jesus Trail, a network of hiking routes connecting many sites from Jesus's life and ministry.
Bet She'an
Masada
  • Masada became famous for its significance in the First Jewish-Roman War (Great Jewish Revolt), when a siege of the fortress by troops of the Roman Empire led to a mass suicide of the site's Jewish defenders when defeat became imminent.
Beersheba
Eilat
  • The southernmost city in Israel, on the Red Sea coast, it is a hot, sunny year-round travel destination. Popular destination for skin and SCUBA diving, with equipment for hire on or near all major beaches.
Kibbutzim
  • A network of once socialist communes which dot the countryside. They are undergoing a process of modernization and re-organization. Well known in Israel for great contributions to Israeli history, politics, army, and Zionism.
Caesarea
  • The old city includes Roman and Crusader ruins, such as the amphitheatre (where concerts are frequently held), as well as the harbor from which St. Paul was taken as a prisoner to Rome.
  • The grassy golf club and villas are newly developed in this coastal city, which has become increasing popular to tourists.
Ein Gedi
  • Desert spring. It is a starting point for tours in Masada as well as the Dead Sea.
Tzippori
  • A Roman town exhibiting elaborate mosaics and a historic Synagogue.
Beit Guvrin-Maresha
  • A large archaeological complex in the Judean Mountains.
Biblical Tells
  • There several Iron Age mounds spread throughout the country. Three of them Tel Be'er Sheva, Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo (the site of Armageddon) were recognized as Unesco world heritage sites . They exhibit elaborate water systems that are among the earliest in the world.

National Parks

Ruins of the Ancient Synagogue at Bar'am National Park

National Parks in Israel are managed by the Israel Nature and Natural Parks Protection Agency. The national parks in Israel include:

West Bank Tourism

Main article: Tourism in the Palestinian territories

The West Bank was Captured by Israel from Jordan in 1967 , and Recognized by some in the international community as occupied Palestinian territory and by others as disputed territory pending status negotiations.

The tourist industry in the West Bank has been administered by Israel since its capture in 1967. Israel regulates the movement of tourists to the West Bank and their Palestinian guides, but Israeli tour operators mostly control how and where tourists dollars are spent. Most travelers to sites in the area stay in Jerusalem's hotels. Tour operations have been negatively impacted by travel warnings from the governments of European nations and the United States. The Lonely Planet travel guide recommends that travelers to be aware of any changing events, but that it is well worth going once past the checkpoints.

Golan Heights Tourism

The Golan Heights were captured from Syria in 1967. Under Israel's 1981 Golan Heights Law, it is subject to Israeli law and administration.

For ease of touring, the Golan can be divided into the north with most of its popular destinations and the south where the administrative capital is located. The infrastructure is less developed than that in Israel proper and does not particularly cater independent tourists. Travel guides recommend renting a car in or joining an organized tour. Although it is slower, some travelers chose to hitchhike throughout the region. Accommodations are typically through bed and breakfasts or cabins called zimmers.

  • The Golan has national parks which provide extensive hiking options. Most of these are maintained by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Land mines from previous wars pose a risk when clearly marked and fenced off areas are disregarded.
  • The Mount Hermon ski resort is popular during the winter months. This is the first ski resort in the Israeli annexed Golan.
  • The area produces wine and the Golan Heights Winery is a large producer. The winery has a visitor's center and tours.
  • Archaeology in Katzrin, Gamla, Nimrod Fortress, Rujm el-Hiri

Seas and lakes

Mediterranean coastal strip
  • Sunny beaches and hotel resorts
The Dead Sea
  • The lowest point on the Earth's surface and the deepest hypersaline lake in the world, famous for its buoyancy and medicinal qualities
Red Sea
  • Sunny beaches and hotel resorts, popular destination for SCUBA diving and water sports
Sea of Galilee

Tourist Demographics

According to the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, 54 percent of the 2.7 million visitors to Israel in 2009 were Christians tourists. Jewish tourists accounted for 39 percent. Revenue from tourism in 2009 totalled $ 3.3 billion. The majority of incoming tourists were from the United States (550,000 ), followed by Russia (400,000); France (260,000); and the United Kingdom (170,000).

Economic impact

Tourism is a leading industry in Israel. In 2008, it constituted 4.7% of the country's GDP.

The Ernst & Young Report

In 2005, Ernst & Young conducted the deepest research that was ever made on the Israeli tourism. The Ministry of Tourism of Israel ordered the research in order to make a revolution in this market. The official subject was "A New Market Strategy for Israeli Tourism" and the result was publicized in November 2006.

The report noted that in 2005, Israel received a total of 1.9 million international visitors and opined that a realistic target is to double the number of international tourists until 2011, to 4–5 million visitors.

It stated that "the absolutely most attractive feature Israel has for the international markets is its "religious culture and history"" as well as "the great diversity/variety within a very small country". The variety it referred is about the different cultures and religions, the very different landscapes from Mount Hermon (located on the Golan Heights to the Negev desert), different cities (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv), the mix of European and Arabic world, etc. The report pointed out thet "All this leads to a very high density of experience." The report recommends that Israel adopt appropriate marketing strategies to counter any perceived negative imagery associated with political developments.

Most visited sites

The two most visited sites in Israel are the Western Wall and the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.The top paid sites of 2008 were listed by Dun & Bradstreet Israel as opposed to the above sites which offer free entry. Another popular free site not listed in the survey is the Bahai Gardens in Haifa.

Listing Site Visitors
3 Masada 721,915
5 Caesarea 713,648
1 Jerusalem Biblical Zoo 687,647
4 Zoological Center of Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan 581,800
2 Hamat Gader 500,000
6 Coral World Underwater Observatory in Eilat 458,000
7 Banias 430,531
8 Yamit 2000 in Holon 412,533
9 Luna Park in Tel Aviv 400,000
10 Qumran 389,291

The top paid sites of 2005 were listed by Dun & Bradstreet Israel.

Listing Site Visitors
1 Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
2 Hamat Gader 550 000
3 Masada 495 000
4 Zoological Center of Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan
5 Caesarea 440 000
6 Coral World Underwater Observatory in Eilat 416 000
7 Mini Israel 408 000
8 Balagan Yagur near Yagur
9 Mount Hermon 350,000
10 Luna Gal on shores of Sea of Gallilee

Gallery

See also

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Footnotes

  1. Interesting Facts about Israel
  2. ^ "Masada tourists' favorite spot in Israel". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  3. Tourism statistics
  4. "Israel Welcomed 2.7 Million Tourists in 2009". Travel Pulse. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  5. ^ Sweeney, Mark. Israeli tourism ad banned for using photo of East Jerusalem 14 April 2010. The Guardian
  6. Alexander, Stian. Israel tourism advert featured picture of Occupied Territories 14 April 2010. The Independent
  8. Le More, Anne (2008). International assistance to the Palestinians after Oslo: political guilt, wasted money. Routledge studies on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Vol. 1. Routledge. ISBN 9780415453851. Israel has de facto been occupying the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, but has consistently rejected the de jure applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the oPt. There is, however, an international consensus that international humanitarian law (IHL) applies. The position of all other High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the UN (through its various bodies, in particular the General Assembly, Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Commision Human Rights) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is that the Geneva Conventions are applicable de jure to the oPt, including East Jerusalem.
  9. "Where the prior holder of territory had seized that territory unlawfully, the state which subsequently takes that territory in the lawful exercise of self-defense has, against that prior holder, better title." Stephen Schwebel, "What Weight to Conquest," American Journal of International Law, 64 (1970):345-347
  10. Meir Rosenne, "Legal Interpretations of UNSC242," in UN Security Council Resolution 242: The Building Block of Peacemaking, op. cit., p. 31
  11. Contextualizing Resolution 242
  12. Resolution 242 (land for peace) and British security interests: Setting the record straight
  13. ^ Kaufman, David; Katz, Marisa S. (April 16, 2006). "In the West Bank, Politics and Tourism Remain Bound Together Inextricably". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  14. ^ Thomas, Amelia; Kohn, Michael; Raphael, Miriam; Raz, Dan Savery (2010). Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Lonely Planet. ISBN 978-1741044560.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. Golan Heights Law, MFA.
  16. Jacobs Daniel; Eber, Shirley; Silvani, Francesca (1998). Israel and the Palestinian territories: The Rough Guide. Rough Guide. ISBN 978-1858282480.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Kohn, Michael (2007). Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Lonely Planet. ISBN 978-1864502770.
  18. ^ Fodor's Israel. Random House, Inc. 2009. ISBN 978-1400008988.
  19. Hazbun 2008, p. 94
  20. Christian pilgrims boost Israeli tourism Christian pilgrims boost Israeli tourism
  21. "20,000 Tourism Workers May Lose Jobs". Ynetnews. December 24, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-25.
  22. http://www.tourism.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/DA41633B-99F1-483B-AEC0-674C861DC94F/2815/IntlMarketsandGrowthPotential.ppt#23
  23. "For first time, religious sites to get state budget of NIS 6.3M". HaAretz. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  24. Tal, Dalia (2006-03-08). "Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem – Most popular tourist site in 2005". Globes. p. 12.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: postscript (link)

References

External links

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