The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies (founded in 1978) is an independent, non-profit think tank, which has been engaged in the study of Jerusalem since its inception. JIIS research covers a vast range of areas of life in Jerusalem: population, economy, education, culture, tourism, environment, and more. Key to our success is our closely guarded integrity, independence, and quality.

The Challenge Jerusalem has the potential to be a major player in the world of tourism. In 2013, it hosted over 2.3 million visitors and registered 9 million overnight stays in hotels. Those figures could be significantly increased – indeed, tourism can, and should, constitute a major growth engine for Jerusalem. The challenge therefore is to realize that potential, with a target goal of 5 million tourists annually by the end of the present decade.

The Project Plan The project will entail:

An annual report outlining and evaluating features of the tourism industry in Jerusalem »An examination of tourism-related infrastructures in the city: the planning and construction »of hotels and other accommodations; services; accessibility to sites; the overall experience of tourists; and more. Suggestions for improvement and policy recommendations will be included here. Surveys and questionnaires distributed to tourists and tourism professionals will enable »input “from the field” in order to assess the current situation and propose improvements and development New markets and new modes of marketing tourism in Jerusalem will also be identified. »

Anticipated Products An annual report, titled “Tourism in Jerusalem,” will outline the major aspects of this industry in the city and include policy recommendations for its further advancement, development, and management.

Anticipated Impact Accelerated development of accommodations and infrastructure in the city »Improvements to major tourist sites, including accessibility »Improvements to the overall tourism experience »An increase in the number of tourists to Jerusalem »

Lead Researchers Israel Kimhi, Lior Regev, Omer Yaniv

Cost Tourism in Jerusalem report: $80,000

Development of the Tourism Industry in Jerusalem