For the first time since the establishment of the Jewish State, the number of visitors to Israel from the American continent exceeded those from Europe in 1953, it was reported here today by the Israel National Tourist Center. More than a third of all tourists in Israel last year came from the United States.
A record number of 13,213 tourists, 19 percent more than during the same period last year, visited Israel in the first quarter of 1954. Almost a third of the visitors came in 80 organized groups, the Tourist Center reported. From January 1 to April 30, 1954, tourists exchanged $1,309,000 in Israeli banks, almost double the amount exchanged during the first quarter of 1953. These figures do not include currency exchanged for the purchase of gifts and for transportation aboard Israeli ships and airplanes.
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