Tag Archives: Israel

The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) has launched a global initiative to train and support professionals from the travel industry, enabling them to become “Israeli Specialists” through a self-learning module program in collaboration with Travel Agent Academy. The e-learning program consists of five interactive and engaging sessions, each followed by a quiz. Its goal is to make Israel as the preferred Mediterranean destination among travel professionals. The introductory module provides a comprehensive overview of the main sights, cities, hotels, and distinctive experiences in the country, along with captivating information about its multicultural population. The four advance modules are designed to empower learners to fully grasp the destination’s experiences and offerings: Christian Travel through Israel – General and Faith-Based Multigenerational and Heritage Travel in Israel Food, Wine, and Culture Outdoor Adventure in Israel’s- Diverse Landscapes Travel industry professionals from the United Arab Emirates can register for the Israel Destination Specialist e-learning portal free of charge and commence their educational journey. A onetime self-registration is required on the Israel Destination Specialist portal, which can be completed promptly to accommodate work and learning schedules. The first 40 learners who successfully complete the modules and submit the electronic certificate from the portal to tourism@vfsglobal.com before September 30,2023, will receive incentive vouchers as a token of appreciation from the Israel Ministry of Tourism. Qualified learners will be notified via email by October 10, 2023. Her Excellency Ms. Liron Zaslansky – Consul General of the State of Israel in Dubai emphasized the significance of strengthening ties between Israel and the UAE through tourism stakeholders. “The Israel Destination Specialist serves as a platform for UAE travel professionals to explore and showcase Israel’s diverse tourism offerings, ultimately inspiring …

Air Astana launched a new direct air services from Almaty to Tel Aviv. The new flight is scheduled to operate twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays using Airbus A321LR aircraft. The outbound service from Almaty has a flight time of 6 hours 45 minutes, with the return flight from Tel Aviv taking 5 hours and 50 minutes. The cost of a round-trip Economy ticket starts from US$603 and Business Class ticket starts from US$1438. Israeli citizens can stay in Kazakhstan visa-free for up to 30 days. This new route is destined to strengthen business, trade, cultural and tourism links between the two countries. Almaty, nestled at the foothills of the majestic Tien Shan mountains, is the largest city in Kazakhstan and beckons international travelers with its unique blend of culture, nature, and history. Almaty’s cultural tapestry is a testament to its diverse heritage, where Eastern and Western influences converge. Visitors can immerse themselves in the city’s vibrant arts scene, explore captivating museums, and indulge in the flavors of Central Asian cuisine. Nature enthusiasts will be captivated by the city’s proximity to pristine mountain landscapes, offering opportunities for hiking, skiing, and breathtaking vistas.

Tourism Minister Haim Katz: “Improvement of infrastructure and beautification upgrades the tourist experience and encourages returning tourism. I have asked the ministry to prepare a directive for the support budget for 2023, that will place an emphasis on budgetary efficiency alongside maximizing the tourism potential.” Ministry of Tourism Director-General Dani Shahar: “We are in the midst of preparing the tourism infrastructure in Israel to welcome  tourists, following the recovery from the pandemic. We carefully considered the many applications received, and we chose those which would bring the greatest value to tourism.” The ministry’s Development Budget Committee approved the support budget for 2022 that will assist in the establishment of dozens of projects in local authorities: parking lots, promenades, bridges, sound and light shows, renovating markets and public spaces, unique lighting, trails, parks, observation points and more. As part of the directive for support in developing public tourism infrastructure, the Israel Ministry of Tourism received in 2022 approximately 210 applications from local authorities for assistance in establishing projects in their area, of which approximately 160 applications met the threshold conditions. The budget available for the construction of tourism infrastructure in 2022 stood at about NIS 340 million. It should be noted that the cost of implementing all the projects is about NIS 700 million, of which the Israel Ministry of Tourism contributed about NIS 410 million (NIS 340 million from the 2022 budget and the remainder from previous years). In recent months, the projects were discussed in the ministry’s Development Budget committee, and were investigated in accordance with the project standard rating: Contribution to incoming tourism (35%) Project maintenance capability (15%) Matches government and ministry policy (15%) Contribution to the economic …

Israel is reopening its doors to vaccinated tourists starting at the end of May, supported by the launch of a strategic campaign that ensures as many foreign tourist arrivals as possible in 2021.  The announcement was made by the Minister of Tourism Orit Farkash-Hacohen at a press conference held in Tel Aviv.  “Israel today is a world leader in safety and health, and we will make sure every potential tourist knows this when planning their summer or winter vacation,” Farkash-Hacohen stated, “We cannot miss this opportunity – and, as minister of tourism, we won’t.” “Dubai has great tourism potential for Israel,” the Minister said, adding “The UK and the US have always been large markets for inbound tourism to Israel. I have no doubt, we will see many tourists from all three countries within a short period of time.” Farkash-Hacohen also announced the ministry would reinstate a directive incentivizing foreign airlines to operate flights to the Ramon Airport located outside of Eilat. The incentive, which was in place before the COVID pandemic, is now being budgeted at a cap of NIS 25 Million, which will enable foreign carriers to receive financial incentives for every tourist they bring to Israel. “In recent years, Indian travellers have become familiar with the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and now we want to introduce them to the resort city of Eilat, on the shores of Red Sea.  Once international travel resumes from India, we are confident that Eilat will be a destination on the minds of the Indian travellers, so we want to make progress with potential flight routes when the demand comes.” said Sammy Yahia, Director of Tourism, India & Philippines. “Ensuring …

Minister of Tourism Orit Farkash-Hacohen and Minister of Health Yuli Edelstein agreed on a framework for the opening of Israel to vaccinated groups of foreign tourists. Starting May 23, 2021, Israel will open its gates to foreigners after more than a year. In the first stage, groups will be allowed in under guidelines to be published by the Ministries.The agreements were reached following the work of the task force set up by the Ministries, including Head of Public Health Sharon Alroey-Price, Ph.D., and COVID Commissioner Professor Nachman Ash, as well as professionals from the Ministry of Tourism. Edelstein, “Israel is the first vaccinated country, and the citizens of Israel are the first to enjoy this result. After opening the economy, it is time to allow tourism in a careful and calculated manner. Opening the tourism is important for one of the fields most hurt during the COVID year. We will continue to look at easing regulations in accordance to the health situation.” Minister of Tourism, Orit Farkash-Hacohen, “I am pleased to give this important first step to the tourism industry. It is time that Israel’s unique advantage as a safe and healthy country start to assist it in recovering from the economic crisis, and not only serve other countries’ economies. Only opening the skies for international tourism will truly revive the tourism industry, including restaurants, hotels, sites, tour guides, busses and others looking to work and provide for their families. I will continue to work for the full opening of tourism to Israel, which will greatly assist the Israeli economy and create workplaces for many Israelis.”