The Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock in the Old City of Jerusalem. Photo: David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – The number of foreign tourists visiting Israel reached an all-time high of 739,000 in the first quarter of 2017.

Israel’s Tourism Ministry reported that the record-breaking statistics represent a 24-percent increase from the first quarter of 2016. In the month of March alone, 239,000 tourists arrived in Israel, a 22-percent increase from the previous year.

Tourism in the first quarter of 2017 accounted for NIS 4 billion ($1.1 billion) being added to the Israeli economy, up NIS 730 million ($199 million) from 2016. Further, 5,000 jobs were added to Israel’s economy as a result of the increase in tourism.

Tourism Ministry officials hope 2013’s previous record number of 3.54 million tourists visiting Israel will be surpassed in 2017. April is expected to see an additional surge due to the Passover and Easter festivals generating increased religious tourism.