Figures show a record rise in tourism to Israel

CBS figures showed a 31 per cent increase arrivals from Russia, at 160,800.

Tourists numbers from China saw a huge leap, up 75 per cent, with a total of 60,900 visitors from the country.

Much smaller increases were reported in tourists from France (9 per cent) and Britain (11 per cent).

Yariv Levin, Israel’s tourism minister said the overall increase was down to his ministry’s policies that “continue to prove themselves. We are seeing that our innovative marketing can bring Israel to new heights.”