Israel sees tourism growth from China India
Date
3/31/2016 12:08:45 PM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Al Aqsa mosque in Israel
JERUSALEM: Israel is looking east toChina and India to help drive tourism as visits to the countryhave yet to fully recover from the 2014 Gaza war TourismMinistry Director-General Amir Halevi said.
In 2015 tourism grew 43 percent from China to some 50000visitors and the ministry sees that doubling by 2018. It will behelped by the start of nonstop flights next month by HainanAirlines from Beijing to Tel Aviv that will add35000 extra seats to Israel a year.
"This will change the game" Halevi told Reuters. "The priceof tickets will go down 50 percent."
Tourism in 2015 fell 3 percent to 3.1 million following awar with Palestinian militants in Gaza in 2014. A weak Russianeconomy also weighed.
In the six-week Gaza conflict Israeli air strikes killedmore than 2100 Palestinians mostly civilians whilePalestinian militants killed six Israeli civilians and 67soldiers.
The fighting briefly shut down Israel's main airport nearTel Aviv as a missile from Gaza fell nearby while scenes ofrockets fired into Israel and forcing Israelis into shelters ledto many tourists cancelling plans.
Halevi played down the impact on tourism of Palestinianstabbing attacks in the last five months. Palestinians havekilled 28 Israelis and two U.S. citizens in knife car-rammingor gun assaults. At least 190 Palestinians have been killed byIsraeli forces.
"For almost 70 years we have been trying to manage tourismwith things happening from time to time" Halevi said pointingto a global trend of violence.
Tourism is a key growth engine for Israel accounting for2.5 percent of gross domestic product. It contributes over 40billion shekels ($11 billion) into the economy yearly with about200000 employees or 3 percent of Israel's workforce.
The United States is Israel's largest tourist market at 20percent followed by Russia France Germany and Britain.
PUSH INTO INDIA
Israel and China this week agreed to a 10-year multiple visadeal with Israel becoming the third country after the UnitedStates and Canada to have this arrangement with China.
Halevi said Chinese interest in Israel is growing. In thismonth's Jerusalem Marathon there were 170 people from China -up from 6 last year.
Flag carrier El Al already flies nonstop to China.
Outgoing tourism from China is expected to reach 200 millionby 2020.
In 2016 Israel will also make a push into India whosetourism to Israel rose 13 percent last year to nearly 40000.The ministry targets 80000-100000 in 2018.Indian carriers have expressed the desire to fly to Israeland Halevi said if tourism keep rising there will be at leastone in addition to El Al.
High cost of flights and hotels also discourage tourism butHalevi said the ministry was seeking international chains tobuild low-cost hotels.
He believes a convention centre and casino is needed in theRed Sea resort city of Eilat to bring in tourists although aplan for a casino has met with political resistance.
Reuters