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Tourism
Israel is a country of magnificent contrast: modern
and ancient, religious and secular, green valleys
and golden deserts, sandy beaches and blue seas.
Israel is a modern country that combines a rich,
illustrious history with a tourist infrastructure
that caters to every vacation taste: superb beaches,
bustling cities, nature reserves, health spas, religious
shrines, shopping malls, gourmet restaurants, artists'
colonies, theaters and nightclubs.
No other country offers so much variety in such close
proximity. Israel is slightly smaller than the State
of New Jersey. In just a single week you can sail
on the Sea of Galilee, float in the salty waters of
the Dead Sea (the lowest point on Earth), climb the
heights of Masada, hike in the Ramon Crater and stand
at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Israel's capital Jerusalem is holy to the world's
three monotheistic religions- Judaism, Christianity
and Islam. There are numerous religious, archeological
and historical sites throughout Israel connected to
these and other religions, including the Baha'i faith.
Ben-Gurion Airport is served by dozens of international
airlines. Israel's southern resort town of Eilat on
the Red Sea is served by the Eilat Airport. Israel
offers hundreds of choices of accommodations to suit
all tastes and budgets, from international hotel chains,
to youth hostels and bed and breakfasts. Israel's
annual income from the tourist industry's approximately
two billion dollars and continues to expand each year.
Approximately half of a million American tourists
came to Israel in 2005, comprising 25% of tourists
to Israel. The United States is the preferred tourist
destination for Israelis, with tens of thousands coming
every year to visit sites across the country.
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