Israel's Tourism Ministry said, Monday, 2010 will be a historic year in tourism for the Holy Land.

"2010 is a record year for incoming tourism to Israel. Israel has become a hot product in the world," said Tourism Ministry Director General Noaz Bar-Nir, at the DC Finance's annual corporate finance conference.

The Jewish state has already surpassed its 2008 record, with more than 3 million people having visited Israel this year.
    
The milestone comes despite a worldwide economic crisis and threats to the nation's security.

Evangelical Christians make up more than 60 percent of all tourists visiting the Jewish state.

And tourism officials predicted that approximately 3.4 million pilgrims will travel to Israel next year.

**Originally published Nov. 24, 2010.