JERUSALEM, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of Chinese tourists to Israel rose by about 30 percent in August year on year, according to data published Monday by the Israel's Ministry of Tourism.

During the last month, some 8,700 Chinese tourists arrived in Israel, compared with 6,700 a year ago.

However, in the first half of 2018, the number of tourists to Israel from China dropped sharply, due to a travel warning issued by the Chinese government last December, immediately after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

As a result, in January, the number of Chinese tourists to Israel dropped by 27 percent year on year, and the decline continued until July, when there was still a sharp drop of 17 percent in Chinese tourist arrivals year on year.

The data also showed that 65,500 tourists from China visited Israel from January to August this year.

The number of tourists from China to Israel is expected to increase further with the planned launch of the new Sichuan Airlines flight between Chengdu and Tel Aviv on Sept. 26.