JERUSALEM (EJP)--- Despite the negative effect the conflict in the north had on tourism, the numbers of visitors to Israel rose in the first half of 2006 by more than 200,000 compared to last year, including big increases from many European countries.

Some 1.2 million tourists entered Israel in the first six months of this year, 13 per cent more than during the same period one year ago.

Between January and July 2006 the tourism ministry recorded 633,912 tourists from Europe, up eight percent on the first half of 2005.

Nordic figures up

There were big rises in visitors from the Nordic countries, with Sweden seeing a 34 percent increase and Norway a 31 percent rise. All together more than 31,000 tourists arrived in Israel from these states in the first half of this year.

Tourism from the UK remained strong in the first half this year with close to 100,000 travellors visiting this country from Britiain between January and July.

In the first half of 2006 France was again the European country providing the most tourists to Israel. However the statistics indicated a 12 percent drop in the number of French visitors compared with the first six months of last year from 174,632 tourists from January to July 2005 to 154,465 during the same months of this year.

And Eastern Europe also remained strong. Residents of the former Soviet Union visited Israel in increasing numbers with Russian tourists up 32 percent to just over 46,000.

Experts have attributed this rise to the better security situation in Israel since the end of the intifada in the final months of 2004 as well as a bright and vibrant advertising campaign.

The tourism ministry and Israel tourist offices around the world attempted to capitalise on the downturn in terrorism with increasingly fun advertising campaigns. London was a major target with TV adverts and billboards portraying Israel as a fun place to visit.

The Tel Aviv beaches and night life were highlighted as well as the interesting historical sites in Jerusalem and Massada.

More and more Israel attempted to change its image from a dangerous war zone to a regular “fun and sun” holiday destination to rival other beach-based vacations.

Conflict causes downturn

But the start of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in mid-July this year had a dramatic effect on the tourism figures.

Even though nearly all countries witnessed a rise in tourism to Israel in the first months of 2006, nearly every country showed a decrease in July compared to July 2005.

Overall 26 percent less Europeans visited Israel this July in comparison with the same month last year. In July 2005 there were 111,608 European tourists while in July 2006 just 82,523.

The UK saw a 24 percent drop in July while the number of Italians decreased by 43 percent.

Some experts have said this conflict with Hezbollah could have a heavy effect on tourism to Israel.

“Although the country was finally beginning to redress its image problem the war with Hezbollah has dramatically changed public opinion of Israel,” one Jerusalem-based travel expert said.

“During the first half of this year the figures were high because people became much less nervous about the security situation. Now Israel is on the news nearly every day with its military affairs topping the news agenda. This changes the public perception and will make many people think twice about traveling to Israel.”

However he added that a large percentage of visitors to Israel will rarely be put off by the security situation because they have been here so many times and are coming to visit friends and family. This can be seen with the July figures which although represented a decrease, still showed that close to 150,000 tourists visited Israel during July, despite the war.