A rise in tourism in March and a 15 percent increase during the first three months of this year are a statistical illusion, according to experts who analyzed the figures released Monday. The actual trend is downward, they say.
In March, 138,700 tourists arrived in Israel, compared to 124,000 in the same month of 1987, an 11.7 percent hike. But this reflected the Passover-Easter holiday, which began on April 1. Adjusted on a seasonal basis, March tourism amounted to 106,000 arrivals.
Similarly, the adjusted figure for April was 110,000, compared to 113,000 in April 1987, according to the experts.
The net decline, linked to continuing unrest in the administered territories, is reflected in the poor bookings and heavy cancellations reported by El Al, Israel’s national airline.
An unidentified airline source quoted by Yediot Achronot Sunday said the number of canceled reservations in recent weeks was “catastrophic.”
The largest decline in bookings has been on flights from the United States. But there also has been a substantial drop in reservations made in other countries. El Al’s computers show a large decrease in the number of Israelis flying abroad, Yediot Achronot reported.
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