The number of visitors to the Binyamin region over the Pesach holiday reached an all time high this year. On Wednesday, Binyamin Regional Council officials said that some 50,000 people visited sites in the region.

Speaking to Arutz Sheva, Moshe Ronsky, the tourism director for the Binyamin Regional Council, said that one of the reasons for the significant jump in the number of tourists was due to the investment that had been made in tourism in Judea and Samaria over the past year.

“The Binyamin Regional Council, and many towns in Judea and Samaria, have been investing in tourism, and we saw the results this Pesach,” Ronsky said. “People are here from all over the country, and the number this year is an all-time high.

“This area is close to the center of the country, and many people who wanted to avoid the terrible traffic at outdoor sites came here,” Ronsky said. “It is convenient to places like Modi´in and Jerusalem for families that want to enjoy nature. And, the security situation has improved dramatically has also helped,” he added.

Chico Ben-Zimra, director of events for the Council, told Arutz Sheva that “the number and range of visitors was very impressive. They came from around the country, and from all segments of society – hareidi religious and secular, as well as English-speaking.” Ben-Zimra also cited the proximity of Binyamin to other parts of the country, and the ease of access to a historic and environmentally rich part of the country as reasons for the significant growth in the number of tourists to the area this year. (IsraelNationalNews © 2012 04/12/12)