Like many items of news in the Holy Land, the stats on tourism are very confusing. It appears that if overall numbers in 2015 are down about 13%, the summer months have seen better occupancy rates in the hotels. Good?

I often make this comparison. When I visited Prague a few years ago, I learnt that almost seven million people visit the Czech Republic each year. Most end up in Prague, where the Jewish quarter is a ‘must see’ item. By comparison, Israel barely hosts three million tourists. And, the majority are not Jewish.

Nobody doubts that Israel has much to offer tourists – history, religion, touring, beaches, extreme, and much more. Jerusalem is very much the natural focus for many. And the city with its seven hills makes for a fascinating place to visit, whatever your age or background.

As for Jerusalem’s capacity to entertain more visitors from oversees, the picture is full of grey blotches. The local press reported last week that two boutique hotels in the centre city are up for sale. That means the future of 60 rooms is unclear.

On the other hand, earlier this year the Waldorf -Astoria chain opened a stunning outlet, built around a preserved structure just near the Old City. Not to be outdone, a group of investors from Georgia have encouraged Rixos to set up shop nearby. And the Jordache Family have just strengthened their hold in the Jerusalem property market, which potentially implies that they too will be preparing new hotels.

And there are more examples of such investments in the top end of the market. What does this add up to? It seems that there are real estate investors, who see something in the potential of the Jerusalem tourism industry, which the tour operators have yet to fathom out.

The shame is that the city is one of the real wonders of the world. I only wish more visitors could believe in its true worth and beauty.