Israel Gets Favorable Rating from Americans

Israel placed in the top five countries viewed most favorably by Americans in a new Gallup poll released earlier this month. Israel ranked fifth in the poll with a 67 percent approval rating after Canada, Britain, Germany and Japan. "1.2 million Americans visited Israel in 2008 and 2009, the best two years for tourism in Israel's 62-year history," said Arie Sommer, commissioner of tourism for the Israel Ministry of Tourism's North and South America office. "With the United States accounting for 21 percent of arriving travelers and with indications that global economic turndown may be approaching its end, we anticipate an even greater influx of American travelers to arrive in the years to come." The United States is Israel's number one source of tourism, with Russia the second largest, followed by France, Britain and Germany. For full details of the Gallup poll, visit www.gallup.com/poll/126116 . For more information on travel to Israel, visit www.goisrael.com.

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