Cruise travel to Israel is expected to reach an all-time high this month with the confirmed arrival of 50,000 tourists and crew docking in the Israel port cities of Ashdod and Haifa.

Israel has seen a steady increase in cruise travel over the past two years with the arrival of 169,200 cruise visitors in 2010—a 250% increase compared to 2009. Also, approximately 68,000 cruise travelers arrived in Israel between January and April 2011—a 37% increase compared to the same period last year.

“We are thrilled to be experiencing a new wave of international cruise travel to Israel,” says Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America, “and hope this trend will inspire travelers to return to Israel for an extended stay.”

For more information on travel to Israel, visit www.goisrael.com.