April 2009 A PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND A BRIDGE FOR PEACE CHRISTIAN TOURISM TO ISRAEL Year Total Christian Protestants Catholics 2006 840, 000 46 15 19 12 2007 1,066,000 47 11 23 13 2008 1,756,902 60 12 33 15 Pilgrim travel comparing the years 2000 and 2008 Other Christians Nearly 1.8 million of the 3 million tourists who visited Israel in 2008 (Israel's record year for incoming tourism) were Christians. Of these, over 1 million defined themselves as pilgrims. This represents a twofold increase on 2007 and 17% increase on 2000, the year Pope John Paul II visited Israel. 40% of the pilgrims who visited Israel in 2008 came from Europe, 30% from America and the remainder from other countries. Comparing the year 2008 with 2000, there was a 43% increase in the number of pilgrims visiting Israel, with the main increase coming from Europe ( increase coming mainly from Eastern Europe- Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Hungary). However, the figures for pilgrim travel from Western Europe (Italy, UK, Germany, Spain, Switzerland) fell 42% more pilgrims came from America in 2008, compared to 2000, however, there was a decrease in pilgrims from Argentina, Mexico etc. The Christian market sector In 2008, 1.8 million Christian tourists visited Israel (17% more than in 2000). The largest increases came from Eastern European countries, with decreases registered from Western European countries. While there was an increase in Christian tourism from The USA (40%), decreases were registered from Argentina (-64%) and Mexico (-37%). Fewer Protestants visited Israel in 2008 compared to 2000, whereas increases were registered in Catholic, Evangelical and other streams of Christianity. (see accompanying charts for detailed information)
Sites visited (%) according to religion (statistics from Ministry of Tourism, 2008) Protesta nt Evangel ical Catholi c Other Christia ns Masa da % 61 75% 31% 30% Qum ran 51% 67% 37% 33% Caesa rea 74% 32% 39% Capern aum 61% 86% 59% Yarde nit Bapti sm site 52% 76% 42% 50% Holy Sepulc her Churc h 74% 83% 84% 85% Via Dolor osa 76% 87% 83% 78% Mt.of Olives 70% 92% 66% 79% Churc h of the Annu nciatio n 47% 57% 51% Marketing In 2009, the Tourism Ministry will allocate about 30% of its marketing budgets to the Christian and pilgrim markets and, in addition, invests in seminars, trade fairs aimed at the Christian market, developing dedicated marketing material etc. About 30% of the marketing budget in the States is allocated to the Christian market, 65% in Italy, 50% in Spain and Poland, 20% in Germany and 15% in France and Poland. The Tourism Ministry anticipates 15-20,000 pilgrims will accompany Pope Benedict XVI on his May pilgrimage to Israel, with an extra 200,000 pilgrims expected to visit in 2009. Dedicated mini website: www.holyland-pilgrimage.org Within the framework of its activities to encourage pilgrimages and Christian travel to Israel, the Ministry of Tourism will launch a dedicated mini website in honor of the May 2009 visit to the Holy Land by Pope Benedict XVI. The user-friendly mini-site, which will be targeted at the potential pilgrim tourist as well as the travel industry, will be available in seven languages English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Polish and Portuguese. The site will be rich in content related to the holy Christian sites throughout Israel, particularly in Jerusalem and the Galilee, including background information, photographs and video footage. The itinerary of the Pope's visit will be featured, highlighting the religious aspects of the sites to be visited and the importance of making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. There will also be pages dedicated to the heritage of Pope John Paul II who visited the Holy Land in the year 2000. Visitors to the site who are interested in making a pilgrimage, either to coincide with or following the Pope's May visit, will be able to follow links to travel agents and
wholesalers offering packages from their home country. This facility offers the travel operators an important platform in their marketing efforts to encourage pilgrimages to the Holy Land. The site will promote classic pilgrimage tours and Christian itineraries, alongside other alternative tours. The site, which will feature links to the Ministry of Tourism's website (www.goisrael.com) and other tourism related sites, will be live from 15 April for a period of at least six months. The launch of the website launch will be supported by an internet-based advertising campaign. Ministry of Tourism investment in Christian holy sites Nazareth As a continuation of the project Nazareth 2000, the Tourism Ministry has allocated 6 million NIS for tourism infrastructure development in Nazareth. This investment will be concentrated in the Cazanova Street area, including upgrading the pathways and alleys leading to the Church of the Annunciation and the Cazanova Hotel. Jerusalem 1.5 million NIS have been allocated to the Mount Zion complex, with infrastructure work that includes renovations and conservation at the Cenacle (Site of the Last Supper) and the entrance to the site. Qasr el Yahud In addition to the investments at the site, additional budgets have been allocated to complete work at the baptism site on the River Jordan near Jericho, including the entry into the water, landscaping and assembly areas for prayer etc.
Table 1. Tourist arrivals for Pilgrimage by country of residence 2000 2008 % change Total 724,883 1,039,799 43% Europe 396,067 609,524 France 40,683 68,251 68% UK 39,498 28,807-27% Germany 48,137 17,010-65% Netherlands 6,451 9,934 Italy 113,098 73,829-35% Nordic countries 2,301 12,591 x Spain 41,324 35,742-14% Belgium 4,465 2,914-35% Switz 10,376 3,371-68% Austria 6,070 5,164-15% Russia 2,965 121,392 x Ukraine 3,348 14,232 x Other Cis 2,813 18,131 x Poland 31,292 119,117 x Hungary 4,087 Other East Europe 23,350 59,429 155% Other countries 11,701 15,524 33% America 249,648 301,753 21% USA 160,800 228,129 42% Canada 21,991 22,207 1% Argentina 8,951 3,107-65% Mexico 21,057 14,255-32% Brazil 14,050 15,957 14% Other Countries 22,798 18,098-21% Africa 27,383 48,805 78% Asia 38,463 65,544 70% Oceania 8,232 7,204-12%
Table 2. Christian Tourist arrivals by country of residence 2000 2008 % change Protestant Catholic Other Christian Total Christians Protestant Catholic Evangelist Other Christian Total Christians 2008/00 Total 434,930 797,371 265,790 1,498,091 316,720 1,003,944 74,698 361,539 1,756,902 17% Europe 297,050 509,229 127,307 933,587 158,199 667,467 24,306 271,100 1,121,071 20% France 20,341 58,990 4,068 83,400 6,061 53,757 1,054 791 61,663-26% UK 57,272 23,699 21,724 102,695 24,318 25,066 3,554 16,087 69,025-33% Germany 90,926 46,355 8,914 146,195 49,611 51,029 3,969 5,103 109,712-25% Netherlands 27,647 25,804 5,529 58,980 20,079 16,116 1,532 1,004 38,732-34% Italy 5,141 155,938 161,078 628 100,448 628 753 102,457-36% Nordic countries 31,702 2,053 11,092 44,848 19,112 11,242 3,654 6,745 40,754-9% Spain 656 60,346 656 61,657 523 51,423 784 327 53,057-14% Belgium 4,465 18,268 406 23,139 1,371 6,857 269 392 8,889-62% Switz 13,143 11,068 1,038 25,249 6,966 9,752 585 724 18,027-29% Austria 2,568 12,140 700 15,409 4,895 9,790 661 15,345 0% Russia 34,102 34,102 4,628 124,596 3,560 106,796 239,580 x Ukraine 13,392 13,392 6,492 3,495 62,419 72,406 x Other Cis 625 5,313 9,375 15,313 6,349 17,637 2,116 28,219 54,321 x Poland 2,086 37,550 417 40,053 2,488 140,577 3,421 146,486 x Other East Europe 2,123 24,765 18,397 45,284 1,570 45,900 42,277 89,747 98% Other countries 4,875 15,276 3,250 23,401 2,520 12,444 1,244 3,609 19,817-15% America 101,209 215,912 74,220 391,340 122,316 225,445 39,973 59,959 447,693 14% USA 87,321 97,024 63,065 247,410 106,049 157,224 30,828 52,408 346,510 40% Canada 7,697 24,190 4,948 36,835 9,365 12,984 3,335 3,264 28,947-21% Argentina 448 15,665 16,112 221 5,152 301 120 5,793-64% Mexico 1,504 27,073 4,512 33,089 230 19,244 736 529 20,739-37% Brazil 251 16,308 753 17,311 1,615 17,286 2,438 760 22,099 28% Other Countries 991 39,153 1,982 42,127 1,043 21,226 3,575 1,750 27,594-34% Africa 3,572 11,906 27,978 43,455 14,665 22,234 5,440 20,421 62,761 44% Asia 52,038 22,625 27,150 101,814 11,806 58,623 1,221 12,756 84,406-17% Oceania 4,826 6,529 6,245 17,599 5,565 8,162 1,051 2,721 17,500-1% 0 0