New hot spot for stargazing

New York, Hollywood, Paris ... Jerusalem. What do these cities have in common? Star sightings.

For over a year now, Israel, and especially Jerusalem, has become a magnet for visitors from all over the world.

Israel is experiencing a tremendous upsurge in tourism, and the celebrities reinforce its popularity. It started with Madonna and Christopher Reeve, and continues with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith who recently spent Passover and Easter in Jerusalem, and placed a wish note among the stones at the Western Wall, visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and met with dignitaries.

Sharon Stone, Jim Carrey, Dan Aykroyd and Richard Gere have also toured the Holy Land. "Sex and the City" star Chris Noth was recently spotted relaxing by the Dead Sea, dining in Tel Aviv and spending time in Jerusalem.

The Israeli-born actress Natalie Portman spent a semester studying at Hebrew University. Ewan McGregor proved Israel was kid-friendly by vacationing with his family at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.

This summer, hot acts like the Black Eyed Peas, reggae star Ziggy Marley, rapper 50 Cent and Sting will make tour stops in Israel.

The number of visitors to Israel has been growing steadily since 2003. In 2005, close to 2 million foreign tourists visited Israel. The first quarter of 2006 showed a 24 percent increase over the same period last year, totaling 463,300 tourists. The numbers are expected to reach close to 3 million by the year's end.

A change in atmosphere to the region as well as the expanding open skies policy, enabling more airplanes to enter Israel, have all contributed to the steady growth in tourism.