A total of 35,184 tourists visited Israel during 1953, it was reported here today by the Israel National Tourist Center. About 45 percent of them came from the United States, showing an increase of 13 percent over the previous year.
The report said that 200 organized groups had visited Israel in 1953, comprising some 7,500 tourists, half of whom were pilgrims. Approximately 30 percent of Israel’s foreign visitors during the past year were not of the Jewish faith.
Israel’s revenue from tourism had risen to $8,000,000 in 1953, an amount representing a sizable part of revenue derived from Israel’s industrial exports and an increase of $1,500,000 over 1952. The average amount spent in Israel by a tourist was $140 in 1953, compared with $110 in 1952 and $117 in 1951, the report indicated.
“This year, ” the report said, “nine de luxe hotels, 40 first class hotels and 57 standard hotels will give the country a total of close to 3,000 hotel rooms to take care of the annual influx of tourists, which is expected to reach its peak in April. Many of these hotels had been completed only this winter and would be comparable to the most modern and luxurious hostelries in the United States and Europe.”
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