Israel’s April tourism numbers set record

The number of tourists entering Israel last month set a record.

Some 354,000 visitors arrived in Israel in April, 19 percent more than in April 2011 and 12 percent more than in April 2010, during Israel’s record year for tourism, according to Israel’s Tourism Ministry.

In addition, more than 1 million visitors arrived in Israel between January and April of this year, 4 percent more than the previous record.

“The consistent increase in the numbers of visitors entering Israel positions the country as an attractive tourism destination of the first order, makes a contribution to the national economy, and increases employment market in the center and the periphery,” Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov said in a statement.