INTRODUCTION
1. GENERAL
Tourist is defined as a person traveling outside his usual environment, in order to see other
places, to enjoy himself or to visit relatives and friends. According to the UNWTO (United
Nations World Tourism Organization), a business trip is also defined as a type of tourism –
business tourism.
Businesses in every industry provide the necessary services for tourists before their trip,
during it and afterwards. The main services are accommodation, travel agencies,
transportation and attractions operators, sales of equipment to tourists, etc.
The purpose of this publication is to present the added value of tourism; i.e., to examine what
is the economic contribution of tourism to the national product.
This publication describes the process of calculating the tourism share of various industries
in the economy, which is defined as a tourism product (TVA – Tourism Value Added).
Calculation of the tourist product is done according to a method developed by the UNWTO
(United Nations World Tourism Organization), the TSA – Tourism Satellite Account1. The
model of the tourism satellite account presents input-output tables of all industries related to
tourism, compared with all other industries.2
The data in the publication relate to 2004. The previous satellite account was produced for
1995. In addition, the publication presents comparisons between the two above years.
The source of the data that were used for preparing the tourism satellite account are both
supply data and demand data.
1
Methodology and detailed definitions can be found in a previous publication on the subject,
published by the Central Bureau of Statistics, Tourism Satellite Account in Israel, Current Statistics
No. 3/2005, Jerusalem, 2005.
2
Detailed tables according to UNWTO recommendations appear below in the Tables Section of the
publication.
- XV -
Following is a breakdown of the data sources:

The Supply and Use Table3 for 2004 is the basis of the tourism satellite account
system.

An additional important source is the Central Bureau of Statistics Household
Expenditure Survey for 2004, which – among other things – also examines
households’ expenditures on trips and travel.

The Central Bureau of Statistics’ trade and services survey and manufacturing survey
for 2004 served as a source of data on output, intermediate inputs and the value
added of commerce and services industries.

The inbound tourism survey conducted by the Ministry of Tourism provided estimates
for distribution of expenditures by tourists from abroad in the country.

Additional surveys of the Central Bureau of Statistics on subjects related to hotels in
the country, as well as data on inbound and outbound tourists and Israelis, assist in
examining the results of the tourism satellite account.

3
Data from the Balance of Payments published by the Central Bureau of Statistics.
Central Bureau of Statistics, Supply and Use Table 2004 and Supply Table 2005-2006, Publication
No. 1370, Jerusalem, 2009.
- XVI -
2. MAIN FINDINGS
A. Summary of findings (Table A)
In 2004 the total tourism consumption4 in the economy stood at approximately NIS 21,764
million5 (at consumer prices).
The added value of tourism (local product of tourism) totaled approximately NIS 8,970
million, which is approximately 1.8% of the national product (Table 6 in the tables section).
TABLE A.- SELECTED INDUSTRIES AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL NATIONAL PRODUCT,
COMPARED WITH THE TOURISM INDUSTRY
2004
Percentages
Tourism
1.8
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
1.6
Manufacturing
13.4
Electricity and water
1.9
Construction
4.3
In 2004 Israeli tourism consumption in the country contributed approximately 61% of total
tourism consumption.
The rest of tourism consumption – 39% - is assigned to inbound tourism to Israel from
abroad.
4
Consumption of local goods and services characteristic of, or connected with, tourism, excluding
imports.
5
All the data in this publication are at 2004 prices, unless otherwise stated.
- XVII -
B. Background
In 2004 there was an economic recovery in Israel – the gross national product rose by 5.2%,
compared with 2003. The per capita product grew by 3.6%, after a continuing drop of three
years.
The economic growth in Israel’s economy in 2004 was mainly focused in hi-tech industries,
similar to that of commercial and financial services industries, that grew significantly. Other
industries as well enjoyed an expansion, but at a lower rate.
The growth in the services industries stemmed mainly from a rise in the demand for IT
products of the world, which caused a rise in the export of computer and R&D services; and
as a result, to a growth in the activities of commercial and financial services. In 2004 the
commercial and financial services industry reached 20% of the product, compared with its
share in 1995 – approximately 16% of the product.
TABLE B.- ECONOMIC INDICATORS OF THE ENTIRE ECONOMY AND EXTENT (MOVEMENT)
OF INTERNAL TOURISM, INBOUND TOURISM AND OUTBOUND TOURISM
1995
2003
2004
Percentage
of change
2004
1995
Percentage
of change
2004
2003
Economic indicators of the entire economy
NIS at 2004 prices
Gross domestic product
(millions)
421,049
534,549
563,713
34
5
Gross domestic product
per capita
75,934
79,906
82,789
9
4
Private consumption
expenditure per capita
42,412
44,434
46,389
9
4
Tourist movement
Thousands
Tourist entries
into the country
2,216
1,063
1,506
-32
42
Israeli departures abroad
2,259
3,299
3,614
60
10
Tourist person-nights
in hotels
9,790
3,518
5,028
-49
43
Israeli person-nights
in hotels
6,737
12,460
12,991
93
4
- XVIII -
In the accepted indicators for estimating the state of tourism – tourist entries, person-nights
in hotels, departures of Israelis abroad – there were also increases recorded in 2004,
compared with 2003:

In inbound tourism – The economic growth in the world, and the improved state of
security in Israel, caused a rise of approximately 42% in the number of tourist entries into
Israel in 2004, compared with 2003; after the sharp drops recorded in inbound tourism in
2002-2003, due to the security situation. Despite the rise in the number of tourist entries,
a slump was still recorded in inbound tourism in 2004. Compared with 1995, the number
of tourist entries in 2004 was lower by 32%.
In 1995 tourist person-nights were approximately 60% of all person-nights in hotels,
whereas in 2004 the tourist share of person-nights constituted approximately 28% of all
person-nights in tourist hotels.

In internal and outbound tourism – Economic growth and the rise in the standard of living
in Israel in 2004 caused a rise in the Israeli demand for tourism services.
According to the household expenditures survey, the number of Israelis going on trips in
the country rose in 2004 by 14%, compared with 2003. The number of Israeli personnights in hotels rose by 4%, and the number of Israeli departures abroad rose by
approximately 10% that year. Compared with 1995 the number of Israeli departures
abroad rose in 2004 by approximately 60%, and the number of Israeli person-nights in
hotels in the country almost doubled. The data on Israeli person-nights in 2004 were
among the highest experienced by hotels in Israel till that period. As for hotel occupancy,
the rise in the number of Israeli person-nights served to counter the drop that occurred in
the number of tourist person-nights.
This publication translates the changes in movement of all the above types of tourists
(inbound tourism, internal tourism and outbound tourism) into financial terms used in national
accounts, and they present the economic contribution of all the types of tourist activity to the
economy.
The estimation of tourist consumption constitutes the first phase of the process of producing
tables for the tourism satellite account.
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C. Components of tourism consumption
Estimating tourism consumption in the economy constitutes a basis for the calculation of the
output and the product of the tourism industry. Tourism consumption was measured in
industries defined as tourism industries (such as accommodation services, transportation
services, travel agencies, cultural activities, entertainment, etc.) and other industries defined
as connected to tourism6 (food and beverages, clothing, gift items and jewellery, insurance,
etc.).
In 2004 tourism consumption totaled approximately NIS 21,764 million (a drop of
approximately 1% compared with 1995 – at 2004 prices). 61% of all tourism consumption
was that of Israelis, and the rest – 39% - of tourists from abroad. In 1995, the first year for
which a tourism satellite account was compiled, the composition of tourism consumption was
completely different from that of 2004 – 65% was contributed by tourists from abroad, and
35% by Israeli tourists; in accordance with the change in tourist movements in the two years
examined (Table B and Diagram 1).
DIAGRAM 1.- DISTRIBUTION OF TOURIST DEMAND IN 1995 AND 2004
(NIS millions, at 2004 prices)
25,000
NIS Millions
20,000
15,000
Israelis
Tourists
10,000
5,000
0
1995
6
2004
For a list of tourist industries and industries connected to tourism and their codes according to the
Standard Classification of Economic Activities – see page 31.
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Despite the fact that Israeli tourism consumption rose in 2004 by 75%, compared with that of
1995, no significant change has occurred in total tourism consumption, and it has dropped by
only 1%, because the tourism consumption of foreign tourists dropped by 41% (Table C).
With regard to the change in the consumption data of foreign tourists, as expected, the
consumption of products defined as “luxury” – souvenirs, jewellery, shopping – dropped by a
greater rate than the consumption of products without which the trip would be impossible –
accommodation services, food services7 and transportation services.
In Israeli tourism consumption in 2004, a sharp rise can be seen in consumption of
transportation services, due to the rise in expenditures related to private vehicles (following
the rise in the number of trips in the country), but mainly due to the rise in expenditures on air
transport services of Israeli companies (a growth of 55%, as a result of the rise of 60% in the
number of Israelis who left the country in 2004, compared with that of 1995). Following the
rise in internal tourism and in the number of Israeli departures abroad, the consumption of
services provided by travel agencies also rose by approximately 27%.
The sharp rise in tourism consumption of dining services by Israelis stems from the rise in
internal tourism, as well as technical reasons of changes in the definition of the industry. 7
7
Part of the difference stems from the change in definition of the restaurants and dining services
industry (Division 56). In 1995 the output in this industry was equal to the revenue, after deducting
the expenditures on food that were included in private consumption. As of 2003, the output of this
industry includes the expenditures on food that were classified as input.
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In conclusion, it can be said that the total tourist demand in industries that mainly supply
services to foreign tourists, and less to Israelis for trips within the country, dropped in 2004
compared with 1995; and therefore, there were sharp drops recorded in tourism demand in
industries belonging to the category of “tourism connected products” – souvenirs, jewellery,
food, etc., as well as in bus services, taxi services and car rentals. However, the total tourist
demand for transportation services rose (Table C) because of the rise in demand for air
transport services, which constitute approximately 60% of the tourist demand for
transportation services.
TABLE C.- TOURIST CONSUMPTION8 OF GOODS AND SERVICES9
NIS millions at 2004 prices,* unless otherwise stated
1995
Services
and goods
Total
Percentage of change
2004
1995
2004
Foreign
Israelis
tourists
Total
Foreign
Israelis
tourists
Foreign
Israelis
tourists
Total
21,983
14,344
7,639
21,764
8,424
13,340
-1
-41
75
Accommodation
services
5,033
2,887
2,146
5,364
1,653
3,711
7
-43
73
Restaurants
and dining
services
1,521
1,096
424
2,018
926
1,092
33
-16
157
Public
transportation
and private
vehicle services
6,992
4,347
2,644
8,365
3,196
5,170
20
-27
96
Travel and
tourist agencies
2,267
656
1,611
2,328
288
2,040
3
-56
27
Entertainment
and sport
services
756
453
302
661
180
481
-13
-60
59
Other tourismconnected
services
1,597
1,373
224
915
599
316
-43
-56
41
Other tourismconnected
goods
3,818
3,531
287
2,114
1,582
531
-45
-55
85
Total
*
1995 data were calculated at 2004 prices, according to the change in the Consumer Price Index,
which rose by 46% between 1995 and 2004.
In 1995 the hotel and air transport services industries served mainly foreign tourists. In 2004
the target groups of the industries changed from tourists to Israelis, and thus the total
consumption in these industries rose.
8
Without imports.
9
See Tables 1,2 and 4 in the Tables Section.
- XXII -
In industries whose main users for trips are Israelis, such as services related to private
vehicles and travel agencies, the demand rose in comparison with 1995.
Items of expenditures on tourist goods and services (Diagram 2 below, and Table 4 in the
tables section): In 2004 transportation services, which include public transportation, air
transport and services related to private vehicles, constituted the greatest expenditure of the
total tourism consumption – approximately 38%, especially due to the demand for air
transport services, which constituted approximately 24% of total consumption.
Accommodation services constituted approximately 25% of all tourism consumption in 2004
(20% among tourists and 28% among Israelis). Travel and tourist agencies services
constituted approximately 11% of all tourism consumption (3% among tourists and 15%
among Israelis). Following them are restaurant services, which constituted approximately 9%
of tourism consumption (11% among tourists and 8% among Israelis). Entertainment, culture
and sport services constituted approximately 3% of all tourism consumption.
DIAGRAM 2.- DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL TOURISM CONSUMPTION,
BY EXPENDITURE ITEMS
1995, 2004
45
40
Percentages
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
A cco mo datio n
services
Restaurants
and dining
services
P ublic
transpo rtatio n
services and
private vehicles
Travel and
to urist
agencies
1995
Entertainment
and spo rt
services
Other pro ducts Other services
co nnected to
co nnected to
to urism
to urism
2004
Import components of tourism consumption among foreign tourists are goods in the “other
goods” category, which include food, clothing, jewellery and other equipment, and constitute
19% of all consumption by foreign tourists.
The value added of tourism components was calculated on the basis of tourism consumption
data (see below).
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D. Output and national product of tourism – value added of tourism (TVA)
Value added is the difference between the value of the goods or service provided and the
value of the inputs used to produce the goods or service. It is common to measure the
contribution of a specific industry to the local economy by presenting the added value of that
industry relative to the total of the goods in the economy. Therefore, the tools used in
national accounts are also used in tourism, in order to make it possible to compare it with the
rest of the industries in the economy, as well as with other countries.
The tourist output in 2004 reached NIS 20,591 million, 6% less than the tourism output in
1995 (Table D below, and Table 5 in the Tables Section). During that same period the total
output in the economy grew by approximately 40%.
TABLE D.- TOURISM OUTPUT10
At 2004 prices
1995
Services
and goods
2004
Tourism
output
Tourism
output rate of
the total
industry
output
Tourism
output
Tourism
output rate of
the total
industry
output
NIS Millions
Percentages
NIS Millions
Percentages
Total
21,982
20,591
Accommodation services
4,843
89.0
5,135
99.6
Restaurants and dining
services
1,407
14.0
1,737
13.0
Public transportation and
private vehicle services
6,865
18.0
7,972
14.0
Travel and tourist agencies
2,212
100.0
2,253
100.0
719
7.0
606
18.0
Other tourism-connected
services
1,472
3.0
860
1.0
Other tourism-connected
goods
4,464
3.0
2,028
1.0
Entertainment and sport
services
In industries in which tourist demand dropped compared with 1995, the output also dropped,
such as in tourist-connected goods and bus and taxi services (the rise in output of
transportation services stems from the rise in output of air transport services, which
constitute 64% of the tourism output of transportation services).
10
See Table 6 in the Tables Section.
- XXIV -
In 2004 the Tourism Value Added (TVA) totaled approximately NIS 8,970 million, which is
1.8% of the total product, compared with 3.4% in 1995 (Table E and Table 6 in the tables
section).
TABLE E.- TOURISM VALUE ADDED (TVA) (at base prices)
1995, 200411
At 2004 prices
Goods and services
1995
Percentage
of change
2004
1995
2004
NIS Millions
Percentages
NIS Millions
Percentages
11,805
100
8,970
100
-24
Accommodation services
3,353
28
2,443
27
-27
Restaurants and dining
services
1,091
9
538
6
-51
Public transportation and
private vehicle services
2,770
23
3,046
34
10
Travel and tourist
agencies
1,086
9
1,319
14
21
418
3
340
4
-19
Other tourism-connected
services
1,296
11
454
5
-65
Other tourism-connected
goods
1,790
15
830
9
-54
Total
Entertainment and sport
services
Compared with 1995, in 2004 the TVA dropped by approximately 24%. This occurrence is
explained by the change that took place between these years in the composition of the
tourists. Whereas 1995 was characterized by record levels of inbound tourism from abroad,
2004 was a good year for internal tourism, but very weak in inbound tourism.
During 1995-2004 the total value added to the economy rose by approximately 42%,
whereas the share of tourism in the GDP dropped from 3.4% in 1995 to 1.8% in 2004. The
reason for that is that the commercial and financial services industries have developed
greatly, and their contribution to the domestic product has become much more significant,
whereas the share of tourism and other industries in the economy have shrunk. Thus, for
example, the ICT industry that constituted 6% of the GDP in 1995, reached approximately
11% of the GDP in 2004.
The greatest component of the tourism product in 2004 was the transportation services
industry, which contributed 34% to the tourism product, and rose by 10% compared with
1995; mainly due to a rise of 32% of the product of air transport services. 27% was
11
See Table 6 in the Tables Section.
- XXV -
contributed by the accommodation services (a drop of 27% compared with 1995), and an
additional approximately 14% was contributed to the tourism product by travel and tourist
agents.
It should be noted that industries whose valued added rose in 2004, such as air transport
services and travel agencies, served mainly local clients. In contrast, a drop in value added
was recorded in the accommodation services industry in 2004, compared with 1995,
following a drop in prices which occurred when the industry was transferred to the local
market.
In a survey conducted by the CBS - “Hotels – Income, Expenditure and Product 2004”12 –
which relates to tourist hotels, a similar phenomenon can be seen; the value added does not
necessarily change in the same direction as the demand. In 2004 hotel incomes rose by 2%,
compared with 1995, whereas the hotel product dropped by 8%.
The value added of tourism-connected products dropped by approximately 54%, in
correspondence with the drop in demand and output.
According to the estimates obtained by the TSA method, in the characteristic industries of
tourism, the number of employed persons in 2004 was approximately 64,000 (approximately
2.6% of all employed persons in the economy); 53% of them were women and 47% were
men. The estimate of employed persons was obtained, as were the calculations of tourism
product, by applying the tourism rate (presented in Table D above13) to the number of
employed persons in characteristic industries of tourism.
12
See Central Bureau of Statistics, Tourism 2006, Publication No. 1302, Jerusalem, 2007.
13
See also Table 6 in the Tables Section.
- XXVI -
E. International comparisons
The TSA method was affirmed by the UN Statistics Committee and the international statistics
community as the accepted framework for calculating economic indicators of tourism.
Several countries publish tourism satellite accounts, some for each year and some for only
selected years. The comparison between data of various countries is not always
unequivocal, since the subject is relatively new and there are still differences of definition.
Table F below presents several tourism indicators from a number of countries around the
world. (TSA Data Around the World, Madrid, March 2009, WTO).
TABLE F.- ECONOMIC INDICATORS OF TOURISM IN SELECTED COUNTRIES
New
Zealand
Spain
Canada
Ireland
Austria
Israel
2004
2004
2002
2000
2005
2004
Tourism consumption –
total (millions of dollars)
17,459
92,440
36,045
6,287
34,895
4,856
TVA (millions of dollars)
6,700
49,149
14,861
2,299
16,595
2,001
5.2
5.8
2.0
2.4
5.5
1.8
2,163
52,430
20,057
6,646
19,952
1,506
49
13
56
97
100
53
TVA as a percentage
of the GDP
Number of tourist
arrivals14 (thousands)
Percentage of departures
of residents abroad,
(compared to
the total population)
Ireland is a country to which Israel can be compared (with regard to its size and GDP). The
number of tourist arrivals to Ireland in 2004 was four times that of tourist arrivals in Israel,
and the number of Irish departures for other countries was also greater than that of Israeli
departures abroad. The tourism consumption in Ireland was higher by approximately 27%
than the tourism consumption in Israel, and the value added of tourism was higher by 12%
than that of Israel.
14
Who stayed in the country for at least one night.
- XXVII -
Table G below shows the distribution of tourism consumption in the above countries.
TABLE G.- DISTRIBUTION OF TOURISM CONSUMPTION
BY GOODS AND SERVICES AND BY CONSUMER
Percentage of total tourism consumption of each consumer group in each of the countries 15
Spain
Canada
Ireland
Austria
Israel
2004
2002
2000
2003-2004
2004
Accommodation services
Total
28
16
13
10
25
Residents
32
12
7
9
28
Foreign tourists
25
24
19
12
20
Total
25
15
28
15
9
Residents
29
14
31
17
8
Foreign tourists
28
17
26
9
11
Total
21
35
27
17
38
Residents
14
38
24
13
39
Foreign tourists
20
27
29
29
38
Total
5
5
3
3
11
Residents
5
7
5
3
15
Foreign tourists
1
1
0.3
1.4
3
Total
2.8
8
6
5
4
Residents
2.9
6
7
6
2
Foreign tourists
2.5
12
5
3
7
Total
9
4
5
13
4
Residents
9
6
6
10
2
11
0.3
5
20
7
Total
9
18
18
37
10
Residents
9
17
20
41
4
13
20
6
25
19
Restaurants and dining
services
Public transportation and
private vehicle services
Travel and tourist agencies
Entertainment and sports
services
Other tourism-connected
services
Foreign tourists
Other tourism-connected
goods
Foreign tourists
15
For each consumer group, the tourism consumption of all the goods and services totals 100%.
- XXVIII -
In most countries the expenditure on public transportation is in first place of the total tourism
consumption, and following it is the expenditure on accommodation services. The distribution
of the rest of the items is not consistent, and depends particularly on the tourism activities of
each country.
Thus, for example, in Spain, Canada, Ireland and Austria the total consumption of restaurant
and dining services is higher than the consumption of accommodation services, or almost
equal to it.
In Israel and Spain the percentage of expenditure of local residents on accommodation
services, out of their total expenditure on tourism services, is higher than that of foreign
tourists.
F. Summary of findings
From the analysis presented above, the relative importance of tourism industries can be
seen. The 2004 Tourism Satellite Account shows the special contribution of internal and
outbound tourism, which replaces inbound tourism during periods of economic crises and
security events in Israel.
The TSA method provides a tool that makes it possible to conduct a general analysis of the
tourism phenomenon. Similarly to the input-output tables, this method makes it possible to
perform analyses and forecasts also for years for which there are no final statistical data.
In this publication a comparison was made between 1995 and 2004, but it must be
remembered that the TSA for 1995 was prepared as a preliminary exercise, and the
definition of industries and processing of data did not always conform to the more advanced
procedure that existed in 2004.
It should be noted that the TSA method is partially based on demand, and there is great
difficulty in measuring demand on the basis of consumer reports, due to the problem of
forgetfulness and non-reporting for other reasons. Therefore, it can be expected that data
regarding tourism demands will have a downward bias.
An additional field of tourism demand that has not yet been sufficiently examined is
commercial tourism demand, which has been growing in recent years.
In the next stage of developing tourism satellite accounts, the goal will be to devise a quality
multi-annual series that can be compared, based on published data as well as data
estimated according to previous TSA tables. An emphasis will be placed on improving the
data from internal tourism by conducting new surveys and integrating them in the existing
surveys. These actions will make it possible to devise an annual/quarterly series of tourism
indicators that will also include the economic aspect, as well as the quantitative aspect, of the
tourist movement.
- XXIX -
3. TERMS, DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS16
Tourism – the activity of individuals (tourists) traveling outside of their usual environment for
a period that does not exceed one consecutive year, for vacation, business or other
purposes, and not for the purpose of receiving wages from the place to which they travel.
Usual environment – a place of usual/daily activity, such as a place of residence, study,
work and pleasure.
Internal tourism – Israelis traveling and vacationing in the country; also including business
travel that includes sleeping away from home.
Inbound tourism – foreign tourists coming into the country.
Outbound tourism – Israeli tourists leaving to travel abroad.
Value added of tourism (TVA) (at base prices) – the value added that is created in the
economy as a result of the activity of tourism and tourism-connected industries, as a
response to local tourism consumption.
The Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) – An accounting system developed by the United
Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The system includes definitions, a
methodology, and tables that aim to present tourism as a separate industry. In that way, the
components of industry can be analyzed and compared with all other industries.
Supply and uses tables – part of an accounting system that presents more detailed
information from ongoing national accounts, and focuses on presenting the reciprocal
relations between the various economic industries. The supply table describes the
resources that were available to the economy: local output and imports at base prices. The
uses table presents the value of production in each industry and the use of each product, at
base prices and at buyer’s prices in the economy.
Tourism consumption of Israelis (domestic tourism) – internal tourism consumption and
consumption in Israel by Israelis departing for a trip abroad.
Tourism consumption of inbound tourism – consumption created as a result of a visit by
foreign tourists in the country, and the demand for goods and services that the Israeli
economy provides.
Total of tourism consumption in the economy – tourism consumption of Israelis and
inbound tourism consumption.
Volume of tourism – the movement of tourists that includes internal tourism, outbound
tourism and inbound tourism.
16
According to the definitions of UNWTO – the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
- XXX -
Industries characteristic of the tourism industry (tourist industries)17 – industries whose
production will be significantly reduced in the absence of tourists.
Industries that are not characteristic of the tourism industry but are connected to it17 –
industries that are important for tourist activity, but were not included in the category of
tourism industries.
Intermediate inputs – the value of materials and services used in the production process.
17
See list of industries on page 31.
- XXXI -