Tag Archive for tourism

HISTORIC: Israeli plane makes 1st public, non-stop to Saudi Arabia

Although no commercial flights are scheduled between Saudi Arabia and Israel, as the two states still share no official relations, direct flights between the two states are a considerable move forward in Saudi-Israeli relations.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

 

An Israeli private jet landed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning, per KAN news, marking the first time a public flight from Israel has ever landed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

HISTORIC: President Trump on Air Force One’s flight to the Jewish State was the first flight to have a publicized flight plan to successfully fly directly (non-stop) from Saudi Arabia to Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport.

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A dozen Israeli passengers quarantined on coronavirus-hit cruise ship off Japan

10 confirmed cases of the coronavirus on board the Carnival Corp. cruise ship, Diamond Princess, forced health officials to quarantine the ship, requiring all passengers confined to their cabins, including the 15-17 Israelis according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.

By REUTERS

 

Around 3,700 people are facing at least two weeks locked away on a cruise liner anchored off Japan, after health officials confirmed on Wednesday that 10 people on the ship had tested positive for coronavirus and more cases were possible.

Among the passengers on the ship are between 15-17 Israelis who are currently under quarantine, according to the Foreign Ministry. Continue Reading »

Jerusalem poised to become world’s leading city in tourism growth for 2018

The Euromonitor reports Israel’s capital is poised to see a 38% spike in inbound tourism by end of 2018.
• Figures indicate Jerusalem’s increasing popularity is due to “relative stability and a strong marketing push.”

By Ilan Gattegno

 

Jerusalem is poised to become the world’s leading city in tourism growth, according to a new report by leading market research firm Euromonitor.

According to the report, the number of tourists around the world will hit 1.4 billion in 2018, an increase of 5% over last year. Jerusalem is set to lead in growth, with an expected 37.5% following a “more modest” increase of 32% in 2017. Continue Reading »

HISTORIC: Saudi Arabia allows Air India direct flights to Israel over its airspace

Israel’s PM Netanyahu announced from Washington on Monday that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has granted Air India rights to overfly it en route to Israel, ending its decades long opposition.

By i24NEWS

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed on Monday that Saudi Arabia has given Air India permission to use its airspace on flights to Tel Aviv, confirming weeks of speculation and signaling a small but unprecedented step in thawing relations between Israel and some Arab states.

El Al destination Map – IridianD

Netanyahu revealed the news in a briefing with Israeli reporters in Washington DC shortly after his meeting with US President Donald Trump. Continue Reading »

Ryanair drops policy to charge for carry-on luggage only to & from Israel

Low-cost Irish airline says reversal of its ‘pay’ policy reached over Israeli airports’ ‘problematic’ security measures will begin Jan. 20th.

By Ariel Whitman and Israel Hayom Staff

 

Ireland’s low-cost carrier Ryanair on Thursday reversed a controversial policy to charge passengers flying to and from Israel, and only Israel, a fee for carry-on luggage.

Passengers on Ryanair flights to and from Israeli airports will now be allowed the same rights as passengers in other countries to bring two free cabin bags – one wheeled and one small – to the gate, subject to airport security regulations.

A Ryanair spokesperson told Israel Hayom that the reversal will go into effect on Jan. Continue Reading »

Christmas tourism in Bethlehem down due to Palestinian leadership’s call to violence

An unlit Christmas tree sits in the middle of a mostly empty plaza in central Bethlehem where shops depend on foreign tourists to boost its economy, but those making money this holiday season are “Only young kids [who] throw stones,” says a gift shop owner, “This is business… The municipality does nothing for us,” the shop owner said.
– WATCH Christmas message from PM Netanyahu.

By Ethan Freedman

 

A large Nativity scene flanked by an unlit Christmas tree sits in the middle of a mostly empty plaza in central Bethlehem, known as the birthplace of Jesus, where Palestinians and a handful of tourists are celebrating the holiday amid tensions over US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Continue Reading »

Swiss Hotel Requires Jewish Guests to Shower Before Using Swimming-pool

Guests say the sign at the hotel pool “reeks of anti-Semitism,” while another sign posted in the kitchen for “Jewisch Guests” made them feel ‘unwanted.’
• Swiss management apologizes, promising to remove the signs since they had “no intention to offend anyone.”

By Yehuda Shlezinger

 

Israeli tourists staying at the Paradies holiday apartments in the Swiss resort town of Arosa have reported a disturbing sign posted on the premises instructing Jewish guests — and only Jews — to shower before using the swimming pool.

Many haredi tourists visit European resorts at this time of year, when yeshiva students are on summer vacation. Continue Reading »

欢迎! Israel Welcomes Chinese Tourism Boom, With Enthusiasm!

 

The welcomed boom in tourism from China, with their increased spending over European tourists, have seen Israel’s hoteliers adapting, with changes in meals, accommodations, the color of flowers, and translated literature in the rooms to name a few.

By Amit Cotler

 

The Ministry of Tourism’s investment in promoting Israel in China has paid dividends, with a 68.6% increase from 2015 to 2016.

The ministry has invested nearly ten million shekels a year, and China’s largest private airline, Hainan, started offering flights to Israel.

A Hainan Airlines Airbus 330 – Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Paul Spijkers

The Ministry of Tourism’s data show that 79,268 tourists from China visited the Jewish state in 2016, but the ministry’s goal is to cross the 100,000 barrier in number of Chinese tourists per year. Continue Reading »

Irish airline Ryanair begins 7 new Europe to Israel routes starting at $22

 

Expanding services to Ben-Gurion Int’l Airport, low-cost Ryanair airline boosts operations in Israel with tickets as low as $22.
• Tourism minister: Reduce ticket costs will promote tourism from  new routes including Warsaw, Budapest, Milan and Baden-Baden.

By Ilan Gattegno

 

Low-cost Irish airline Ryanair officially released their new flight schedule for the current winter season on Wednesday, with 19 regular routes to Israel. Seven new routes will service Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, and eight new destinations will join the four existing routes servicing Eilat’s Ovda Airport, which fly to Bratislava, Budapest, Krakow and Kaunas.

Israel’s Ben Gurion Int’l Airport, terminal 3 reception hall.

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Israel launches tourism ad campaign for India TV

 

Israel’s Tourism Ministry invests $1.5 million in TV ad campaign to encourage tourism from India to the Holy Land, with a set goal of 100,000 visiting tourists by 2018.

By Anav Silverman/TPS

Israel’s Tourism Ministry is looking to break into the Asian market, with the launch of its first major TV advertising campaign in India to promote incoming tourism to Israel.

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According to the Tourism Ministry, India is one of the major emerging markets for incoming tourism to Israel.

“The experiential campaign that we have launched in India has been adapted to the particular characteristics and tastes of the Indian market,” elaborated Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, who noted that Israel is also engaged in significant marketing campaigns in China. Continue Reading »

Israel on Greek Gov’t List For Discount Prices & Gifts to Tourists

 

According to Greek Tourism Ministry, Israel is 1 of 4 non-EU nations whose tourists have been granted a 20% discount in Greek shops & businesses during 2016, after some 400,000 Israelis visited Greece in 2015.

By Israel Hayom Staff

 

Greece has always been a popular summer tourist destination for Israelis, and now it appears that vacationing there will cost Israeli passport holders even less. Thanks to a new initiative by Greece’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Dimitris Mardas and Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship President Vassilis Korkidis, Greece is offering Israeli tourists a 20% discount in the country’s shops for the remainder of 2016. Continue Reading »

Israel’s El Al comes in next to last on landing punctuality

 

With only Pakistan Airlines less punctual, a report by Flystats shows that in March of this year, 45% of El Al flights arrived more than 15 minutes late, with an average of 44 minutes late.

By Ilan Gattegno

 

Israel’s national air carrier, El Al, is running late: Some 45% of the company’s flights for March 2016 landed over 15 minutes late at their destinations, putting the airline next-to-last in a report published by the company Flystats, which tracks real-time information about airlines and airports.

An El Al aircraft – Photo: KOKO

El Al flights landed an average of 44 minutes late in March. Continue Reading »

Israel delighted as tourism from China & India continue to grow

 

Tourism from China grows 43% to some 50,000, from India up 13% to nearly 40,000 visitors in 2015, and with Chinese carrier to launch nonstop flights next month from Beijing to Tel Aviv, the Tourism Ministry sees visitors doubling by 2018.

By Reuters & Israel Hayom Staff

 

Israel is looking east to China and India to help drive tourism, as visits to the country have yet to fully recover from the 2014 Gaza war, Tourism Ministry Director General Amir Halevi said.

Travelers at Ben-Gurion International Airport [Illustrative] – Photo: Yehoshua Yosef

In 2015, tourism grew 43% from China to some 50,000 visitors and the ministry sees that doubling by 2018. Continue Reading »

Hospitalized Japanese Tourist Wounded By Palestinian Terrorist Still Happy She’s Visiting Israel

 

The 69yr-old Japanese woman who’s visiting as part of pro-Israel group from Japan, was praying in Jerusalem when hit by a rock said, “I still am happy that I came to Israel.”

By Ido Ben-Porat

 

A 69-year-old Japanese tourist visiting Israel was lightly wounded on Monday by rocks thrown at her by Arab assailants.

Wounded Japanese tourist – Photo courtesy Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital spokesperson

The attack took place at the Lion’s Gate of the Old City in Jerusalem, which leads to the Temple Mount from the east.

Magen David Adom (MDA) medical teams provided her treatment before evacuating her to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in the capital. Continue Reading »

‘We love Israeli tourists’: Turkish businessmen embrace normalization, seeking return of ‘good ol’ days’

 

Hotel managers in Istanbul admits to the Israeli media that they eagerly await the return of Israeli tourists, saying, ‘We hope Israeli tourists will return en masse, they’re preferred customers.’

By Tova Dvorin

 

Turkish business owners eagerly await the return of Israeli tourism, Channel 2 reports Friday, less than 24 hours after Israeli and Turkish officials held normalization talks in Switzerland.

“We love Israelis and they have almost stopped coming in recent years because of politics,” Saardan, a hotel worker in Istanbul, told the Israeli daily. He added that Israelis were, and remain, “preferred customers.”

“The buffet awaits you,” Malek Kiyeh, a Turkish hotel owner, added.  Continue Reading »