Jerusalem is a popular tourist destination for people from around the world and the main attraction for tourists to Israel. Among its many visitors are Jewish, Christian, and Muslim pilgrims, backpackers, vacationers, and the participants of numerous international conferences. Tourists can take advantage of a beautiful mountain city with numerous religious and historical sites of interest and a lively nightlife.
F1. The Scope of Tourism
According to the Ministry of Tourism, in 1995, 3 million tourists visited Israel of these, 80 percent visited Jerusalem. Hotels play an important role in the city. Altogether, there are 63 hotels that are either licensed or in the process of being licensed (32 in West Jerusalem and 31 in East Jerusalem). The total number of available hotel rooms is 7,688. In 1995, Jerusalem's hotels hosted over 1 million guests, of them, approximately 810 thousand were tourists. This is an increase of 87 percent in the number of guests and 158 percent in the number of tourists as compared to 1991. In addition, there are a large number of rooms in small hotels, Christian hostels, and youth hostels in both East and West Jerusalem. These serve popular tourism, which arrives in Jerusalem in large numbers.
In the first six months of 1996, there was an increase of some 4 percent and some 4.1 percent in the number of tourists staying at tourist hotels in Jerusalem, as compared to the same period in 1995.
Approximately 39 percent of all tourists come from the Americas, mainly North and Central America, and 42 percent come from Europe. The remainder is from other countries.
In 1995 the total number of nights spent by guests in Jerusalem hotels (most stay 3.4 nights) reached 3.3 million, including 2.9 million tourist nights. This shows an increase of almost 76% since 1991 and of 121% by tourists alone.
The revenue from tourist hotels (registered) in Jerusalem in 1994 was NIS 595,632. In 1995 the revenues from tourist hotels and hotels that have yet to be recognized (A) came to NIS 750,730.
Table 11 : Guests and Overnight Stays in Jerusalem and Israel, 1995
| |
Guests
(in Thousands) |
Overnight Stays
(in Thousands) |
| |
Total |
Tourists |
Israelis |
Total |
Tourists |
Israelis |
| Israel |
5,883.1 |
2,978.3 |
2,904.8 |
16,018.0 |
9,496.1 |
6,522.3 |
| Jerusalem |
1,057.0 |
810.6 |
246.4 |
3,300.2 |
2,875.7 |
424.5 |
Source: Tourism and Hotel Services Statistics Quarterly, Vol. 24, No.3, Central Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Tourism, October 1996.
F2. Jerusalem as an International Conference Center
Jerusalem is also Israel's most important center for international conferences; approximately 50% of all such conferences in Israel are held in Jerusalem. In 1993 some 32,000 people (71% of all conference participants in Israel) took part in these conferences.
The establishment and oepration of the International Congress Center had a considerable effect on the ever growing number of international conferences held in Jerusalem. In 1995, some 50 thousand visitors arrived in Jerusalem to attend international conferences. According to international statistics, in 1995 Jerusalem was ranked in sixteenth place among all cities in the world in which international conferences were held.
F3. Future Trends
The number of tourists to Israel has risen dramatically in the past few years and is expected to grow even more in the coming years. Last year (1996) Jerusalem celebrated the 3,000 year anniversary of King David declaring the city to be his capital. Festivities celebrating this occasion drew an unprecedented number of visitors. Other key events that are expected to draw large numbers of tourists to Israel and Jerusalem include the 50th anniversary celebrations of Israel's independence (1998) and the beginning of the new millennium.
To accommodate these tourists, the Joint Committee of the
Ministry of Tourism, the Municipality of Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Development Authority set as a goal the addition of 10,000 hotel rooms in the city by the year 2000, in both existing and in new hotels. To date, 30 sites have been located where more than 5,000 rooms can be added in a relatively short period.
The Committee has also emphasised the development of tourist projects in both East and West Jerusalem and the establishment of many new tourist information centers.
Among the projects now underway or in advanced planning stages are:
- The revitalization of the city centre;
- The Mount of Olives;
- The Valley of the Kings;
- The Old City;
- The main business district of East Jerusalem;
- Me'ah Shearim
- Ein Karem
Exploitation of the city's existing tourist potential will further increase the number of tourists and contribute to Jerusalem's economic growth.