Tag Archive for Israel tourism

| May 11, 2015
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Portugal’s Tourism Minister In Israel to Emulate Smart City’s Technology

Portugal, part of the United Nation’s tourism body currently in Israel, is interested not only in emulating Tel Aviv’s technology, but also in attracting Israeli tourists.

By NIV ELIS

 

Portugal is looking to pick up some tricks of the trade in the field of smart cities, according to Portuguese Secretary of State for Tourism Adolfo Mesquita Nunes.

THE TEL AVIV skyline; the area around the city is home to many Israeli start-ups

The TEL AVIV skyline; the area around the city is home to many Israeli start-ups. – Photo: REUTERS

“We made a huge transformation on our promotion model. We gave up traditional and offline and are almost 100% in the digital marketing, se we’re a case study for that,” said Nunes, who is in Israel for the UNWTO (the United Nation’s tourism body) Commission For Europe Annual Conference in Haifa. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , ,
| March 5, 2015
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National Geographic places Tel Aviv in top 10 seaside cities

National Geographic magazine reports, “There’s plenty of room for beach bathing in this modern Israeli city on the Mediterranean.”

By Dan Lavie, Ilan Gategno & Israel Hayom Staff

 

Tel Aviv has been named by the National Geographic magazine as one of the world’s top 10 oceanfront cities. Tel Aviv was joined on the list by Tallinn, Estonia; Saint John’s, Canada; San Diego, California; Marseille, France; Perth and Brisbane, Australia; Durban, South Africa; Vladivostok, Russia; and Portland, Maine.

The Tel Aviv beach – Photo: GettyImages

“There’s plenty of room for beach bathing in this modern Israeli city on the Mediterranean,” National Geographic said of Tel Aviv. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| November 27, 2014
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Report: Israel among first nations eligible for India’s new e-visa

Business Standard reports Israel is among 43 countries in the first phase of an Indian initiative to issue paperless visas to entering tourists.

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India phasing in Tourist Visa on Arrival program, which will eventually be open to almost all of the 180 countries which host its diplomatic mission.

Mumbai airport

Travelers walking in Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, India, March 8, 2012. – Photo: Bloomberg

Israel will be among 43 countries in the first phase of India’s new program to issue electronic visas to visitors with which it has diplomatic relations, Business Standard announced Wednesday.

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The list will be issued Thursday, as is expected to include most European Union states, as well as Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Oman, Argentina and Kazakhstan.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| October 8, 2014
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PLO Official Attacks Israel’s Plan to Expand Jewish access to Temple Mount

PLO’s Hanan Ashrawi calls Israel Tourism Ministry’s proposal an ‘insult’ to Muslims worldwide, accuses Israel of violating`sanctity of religious sites without consequences.’

 

 

An Israeli Ministry of Tourism proposal to enable Jews to enter the Temple Mount through a second gate, in an effort to reduce the waiting time for visitors, generated harsh opposition from the Palestinians.

The Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem.

The Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem. – Photo: Gil Eliyahu

The Temple Mount, which Muslims call the Noble Sanctuary, is both the holiest site for religious Jews and the site of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock.

Up to now, Jews have been allowed to enter the Temple Mount only through the Mughrabi Gate. Continue Reading »

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| August 26, 2014
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Undeterred by war, Ryanair seeks to transform Israel into hub for low-cost flights

Despite current military conflict, Ryanair management blames Jerusalem’s bureaucracy & the gov’t’s determination to protect El Al from foreign competition for the delay in entering Israel’s market.

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Low-cost airline Ryanair wants to launch an “Israeli version” of the Irish company and turn Israel into one of its hubs, CEO Michael O’Leary told the Irish Independent newspaper.

A Ryanair jet

A Ryanair jet. – Photo: Bloomberg

Ryanair is Europe’s largest low-cost airline, and it has already said that it intends to start flying to and from Israel. O’Leary says the company has great aspirations for Israel, and promised Israel’s tourism minister last year that the company would bring Israel 4-5 million tourists a year.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| July 20, 2014
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Korean Air cancels its Tel Aviv flights citing safety concerns

 

 

Korean Air announces “temporary flight suspension to Tel Aviv” until July 24 as a result of the Gaza war.

Airlines are offering excellent deals to counter wave of cancellations, with prices slashed by as much as 50%.

By Ilan Gattegno

Korean Air suspended Israel-bound flights until Thursday as a result of the ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip, the company announced on Friday. The airline hinted that the move was partially designed to review safety issues in the wake of the incident last week in which a Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine.

Some 30% of ticket-holders have canceled their travel plans in the wake of the ongoing fighting, officials say – Photo: Yossi Zeliger

“To ensure the safety of customers from the political unrest of the Israel [sic], flights to Tel Aviv (TLV) will be suspended for the duration specified below,” read a statement on the company’s website bearing the headline “Notification of temporary flight suspension to Tel Aviv.”

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| June 19, 2014
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Eilat hotels looking for Jordanians to fill needed jobs

Proposal for Jordanian manpower is meant to address an acute shortage of hotel workers that has left the tourism sector on the verge of collapse, report hoteliers.

 

A proposal in the works would allow hotels in Eilat to hire up to 1,500 workers from neighboring Jordan, amid a shortage of hospitality employees in Israel’s southernmost city.

Eilat workers

African migrants at work in an Eilat hotel. Since the dismissal of thousands of African employees, the resort city has had an acute shortage of manpower. – Photo: Olivier Fitousi

Tourism Minister Uzi Landau and Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar intend to hand the proposal to the cabinet on Sunday.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| May 27, 2014
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Mayor of Jerusalem: Change code to Israel’s airport from TLV to JLM

 

Mayor of Israel’s capital revives idea of changing code of Ben-Gurion International Airport in order to boost tourism to Jerusalem.

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Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat Tuesday called on the Knesset to change the code letters of Israel’s Ben-Gurion airport from TLV to JLM, Israel National News reported.

Nir Barkat

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat – Photo: Emil Salman

Speaking at the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee, Barkat said, “Branding the airport with the letters symbolizing the capital of Israel will put Jerusalem at the center and accelerate tourism to the capital.”

The mayor was outlining general development projects in Jerusalem, according to the report.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| March 23, 2014
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Israel contracts journalist to film Pope’s visit to Israel for tourism promotion

The Portuguese born reporter says he’ll film the documentary to foster good relations between the Pope, the Jewish people & Israel.

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The Tourism Ministry is paying 215,000 shekels ($61,800) to a Portugal-born, Israel-based journalist for 14 filmed news reports on Pope Francis’ visit to Israel in May. The ministry plans to use the footage to promote tourism to the country.

Pope Francis and President Shimon Peres exchange greetings during a private meeting at the Vatican.

Pope Francis and President Shimon Peres exchange greetings during a private meeting at the Vatican, April 30, 2013.- Photo: Reuters

The reports by journalist Henrique Cymerman will be broadcast on Catholic-oriented television stations and websites around the world.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| June 6, 2013
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Decade later, construction on Israel’s 2nd int’l airport takes off

 

The Ilan & Asaf Ramon Int’l Airport is set to become a reality. For now the desert surroundings seem poised to trump any possible architectural cliche.

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This week the bulldozers and steamrollers finally kicked up their first cloud of sand as work began on the new international airport, in Timna, in the Arava Desert.

Architect’s rendering of the planned Timna international airport near Eilat.

Architect’s rendering of the planned Timna international airport near Eilat. – Photo Courtesy

 

The cornerstone of the facility, whose official name is the Ilan and Asaf Ramon Airport, was laid two weeks ago in a ceremony attended by Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, Israel Airports Authority officials, Eilat Mayor Meir Yitzhak Halevy and members of the Ramon family including Rona Ramon. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| January 20, 2013
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30 Countries Dispatch Officials to Attend IMTM Tourism Fair in Israel

Representatives from Taiwan & the Philippines to participate in Int’l Mediterranean Tourism Market for 1st time this year. At least 150 travel agents from abroad are expected to arrive.

By Danny Sadeh

 

Tourism Ministry Director-General Noaz Bar Nir will be named Person of the Year in Tourism during the International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM) event scheduled to open in Tel Aviv on February 5-6.

Tourism Fair

IMTM event to be held for 19th time in February Photo: Rami Hacham

Bar Nir will be given the title as a show of appreciation for the committee he chaired, whose recommendations for reducing vacation prices in Israel were adopted by the government recently. Continue Reading »

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| September 1, 2012
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Many Western countries warn tourists: Visit Israel at your own risk

The latest int’l travel advisory warns tourists that Israel periodically conducts military operations in the West Bank & Gaza, with no prior notice, & also advises travelers to avoid demonstrations.

By Ilan Lior

Israel has long starred in other countries’ travel advisories, and reading these warnings isn’t particularly flattering.

The warnings about terror attacks are predictable: Most countries urge their citizens to stay alert while visiting Israel and to avoid certain areas, such as Gaza, the Lebanese and Egyptian borders, and sometimes the West Bank – though no country has yet included a warning about the Iranian threat.

Travel advisories to Israel.

Travel advisories to Israel.

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Category: Jewish News | Tags:
| May 13, 2012
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Lack of shade makes Western Wall visit unbearable for tourists

Judaism’s holiest site is also one of the most unpleasant places to visit.

 

It was a beautiful, partially cloudy spring day in Jerusalem on Tuesday, with temperatures reaching 25 degrees Celsius in the shade. A perfect day for strolling around nearly any part of the city, with one truly glaring exception: the Western Wall Plaza. The glaring whiteness of the plaza pavement reflected the heat, and the complete absence of trees, buildings and pergolas ensured that there was not a speck of shade. The result is an almost unbearable experience for worshipers and tourists who congregate at the Judaism’s holiest site.

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