JERUSALEM, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The number of foreign tourists visiting Israel in 2023 increased by 12.52 percent year-on-year despite a sharp drop since October caused by the Israel-Hamas conflict, data released by the country's Central Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday.
Last year, about 3.01 million tourists visited Israel, compared to 2.675 million in 2022, indicating the continued recovery of tourism after the coronavirus crisis in previous years, according to the bureau.
However, the number was still significantly lower than the record 4.55 million in 2019.
Following the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the number of tourists visiting Israel dropped from 304,100 in September to 89,700 in October, 38,300 in November, and 52,800 in December.
Most foreign airlines have suspended their flights to and from Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv after the conflict. The majority of the current flights are operated by Israel's flagship airline, El Al. ■
