All the news about Israeli tourism

Before departing for the MITT travel show in Moscow, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Shaul Zemach revealed that the marketing budget of 14 million shekels is required to minimize the damage caused to incoming tourism from Russia as a result of the global economic crisis and the military operation in Gaza.   He added that despite these issues, there is still interest in Israel from the Russian wholesale agents.

During the four days Moscow International Travel & Tourism (MITT) exhibition which opens on 18th March, representatives of the Ministry of Tourism will meet with the leading wholesale Russian travel agents and airlines in an attempt to increase the number working directly with Israel.  Russia as the ninth largest outgoing tourist market in the world is now a significant player in the tourism market.

Israel will be represented by a record number of 56 companies, including among others, hotels, airlines and tourist associations.

The cancellation of visa requirements for Russian tourists, which came into effect in September 2008, plus the close proximity of the two countries, makes Israel an attractive destination for the Russian tourist.  The marketing budget is being used to show all of the possible options available to the Russian tourist who visits Israel.

After months where tourist numbers from Russia to Israel grew steadily, the military operation in Gaza and the global economic crisis brought a complete halt of incoming tourism to Israel.  During 2008, a total of 356 thousand Russian tourists visited Israel, a growth of 84 percent on the previous year.