While the number of tourists visiting Israel rose by 30 percent this year, the amount of money spent by the visitors increased by only nine percent, it was reported here today by Theodor Kollek, director-general of the Prime Minister’s Office and chairman of the Government Tourist Corporation.
Mr. Kolleck, who addressed the opening of a conference held by the Tourist Corporation jointly with El Al Israel National Airlines and the Zim Israel Navigation Company, attributed the difference in the two figures to the fact more visitors exchanged currency through unofficial channels. He blamed the inadequate exchange rate of 2.16 pounds for the dollar for this phenomenon.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.