All the news about Israeli tourism

Brazilian Ambassador Pedro Motta Pinto Coelho expressed his delight with El Al’s initiative to commence three direct flights a week to Brazil, starting on May 2nd.  Coelho: “It is an important vote of confidence by the main Israeli airline in the overall relationship with Brazil and South America”.   Flight time from Tel Aviv will be 14 hours 45 minutes on El Al’s latest Boeing 777 aircraft.

With an estimated 200 thousand passengers currently travelling in both directions between Israel and South America, Brazilian Ambassador Coelho welcomed El Al’s initiative in opening a direct route with the continent.   He explained that it was a solid decision based on the potential of an active and dynamic market that now exists in Brazil and South America. 

According to Ambassador Coelho, while the potential for tourism is well known, a whole new world will be opened up to the Israeli tourist in culture, cuisine and the natural attractions of the South American continent.   For Brazilians and South Americans the mysteries of the Holy Land and of the modern, sophisticated Israeli culture are a magnet that draws them to Israel.

The Mercosur trade agreement signed at the end of 2007, helped to boost trade between Israel and South America.  Trade between Brazil and Israel totaled $1.6 billion in 2008 and is expected to top $2 billion in 2009.

Haim Romano, CEO of El Al launching the campaign with the slogan “No place too far”, explained that with 12 thousand young Israelis traveling to the South American continent every year as well as some 15 thousand business persons, El Al recognized the potential of this route.  Citing the example of Thailand, he explained that in 2002 only 17 thousand passengers traveled from Israel to Thailand, but following El Al’s decision to fly to Bangkok, the number of passengers traveling on this route reached 180 thousand in 2008.

With close to half a million Jews in South America and 150 million Catholics in Brazil alone, this provides potential for a significant increase in tourism from South America to Israel.  El Al have proposed a variety of regional flight packages for South American pilgrims making the trip to the region, including connecting flights to Cairo and other destinations in Europe.

El Al has already signed cooperation agreements with TAM Brazil and Aerolineas Argentinas, and this will allow more convenient connections to other destinations throughout South America.

Flight LY009 will depart Tel Aviv for Sao Paolo on Saturday nights at 22:45 and on Monday and Wednesday at 21:45.  The return flight, LY010 will leave Sao Paolo on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 14:55 local time with a journey time of 13 hours 45 minutes.

The return flight to Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro starts at $999, while to Buenos Aires the price is $1,099.