The increasing number of tourists visiting sites in East Jerusalem continued through 2006 according to East Jerusalem Development Ltd. as it forecast a further increase with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the city’s unification this year.
The welcome trend started in 2004 according to the Jerusalem Post. Among the popular attractions for the year, the Jerusalem Archaeological Park and Davidson Center had 212,000 visitors in 2006, 10% more than the previous year and an increase of 70% over 2004. Similarly, tours along the walls of the Old City drew 100,039 visitors, which was 7% more than 2005 and 280% higher than 2004.
Gidon Shamir, CEO of EJD attributes the rise in tourist to the quiet on the security front and to special programs such as birthright, which has brought tens of thousands of visitors to Israel for the first time.
Tourists to Israel spent an average nine days in the country in 2006, compared to 11 days in 2000 when tourism to the country was at its peak, the Tiberias Hotels Association reported. The association conducted a survey on the average time spent in the country in light of the “Go Galilee” program to promote tourism to the Galilee region later this month.
Report by Chitra Mogul
