Tourism in Israel includes a rich variety of historical and religious sites in the Holy Land, as well as modern beach resorts, archaeological tourism, heritage tourism and ecotourism. Israel has the highest number of museums per capital in the world. As of the first half of the year 2008, over 1.46 million international tourists arrived in the country. Last year had over 2.3 million tourist arrivals.[1] The largest groups of tourists come from the United States, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom.[1]
Historical, religious and cultural sites
- Jerusalem
- Golan Heights
- Safed
- A holy city in Judaism, where much of the Jerusalem Talmud was written and kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) was developed. Famous for its artisans.
- Acre
- Haifa
- Tiberias
- Nazareth
- Jesus's hometown and site of many of his acts and miracles
- Bet She'an
- Tel Aviv
- Bethlehem
- Burial place of the matriarch Rachel and birthplace of King David.
- Birthplace of Jesus
- Hebron
- Masada
- Masada became famous for its significance in the First Jewish-Roman War (Great Jewish Revolt), when a siege of the fortress by troops of the Roman Empire led to a mass suicide of the site's Jewish defenders when defeat became imminent.
- Beersheba
- Its settlement attributed to the patriarch Abraham. Regional capital of the Negev desert.
- Eilat
- Southernmost city. Year-round vacation destination.
- Kibbutzim
- A network of once Socialist communes which dot the countryside. They are currently undergoing a process of modernization and re-organization. Well known in Israel for great contributions to Israeli history, politics, army, and Zionism.
- Caesarea
- The old city includes Roman and Crusader ruins, such as the amphitheatre (where concerts are frequently held), as well as the harbor from which St. Paul was taken as a prisoner to Rome.
- The grassy golf club and villas are newly developed in this coastal city, which has become increasing popular to tourists.
- Ein Gedi
Seas and lakes
- Mediterranean coastal strip
- Sunny beaches and hotel resorts
- The Dead Sea
- The lowest point on the Earth's surface and the deepest hypersaline lake in the world, famous for its buoyancy and medicinal qualities
- Red Sea
- Sunny beaches and hotel resorts
- Sea of Galilee
References
External links
|
