Israel Hotel Association: Q1/09 tourist overnights drop by 26%

Hotel overnights by tourists and Israelis totaled 3.6 million altogether during the first quarter, 15% fewer than during the corresponding quarter
 
Israel Hotel Association reported last week that there were 1.7 million tourist overnights at hotels during Q1/09, 26% fewer overnights than during the corresponding quarter of 2008.
 
In a press release issued by the association it was noted that tourism during the first quarter of 2009 was affected by Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in January and a poor global economy. Both events combined to reduce the number of tourists entering Israel.
 
Hotel overnights by tourists and Israelis totaled 3.6 million altogether during the first quarter, 15% fewer than during the corresponding quarter.
 
The sharpest declines were hotel overnights in Herzliya, Haifa, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.