Tag Archives: Israel

Air India Cancels Flights To Tel Aviv till October 14

Air India has cancelled its flights to and from Tel Aviv till October 14. Israel came under attack by Hamas group on Saturday and since then, both sides are engaged in fighting in which scores of people have died.
“Our flights to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended till 14th October, 2023, for the safety of our passengers and crew,” an airline spokesperson said in a statement.

The airline will extend all possible support to passengers who have confirmed bookings on any flight during this period, the spokesperson added.

The full service carrier operates five weekly flights to Tel Aviv from the national capital. The service is on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday also, the carrier cancelled its flights to and from Tel Aviv.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, expressed solidarity with Israel after Hamas militants launched an attack on the country.

PM Modi condemned it as “terrorist attacks” in Israel as its leader Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is at war.

Indian Embassies in Israel, Palestine issue advisories to ‘remain vigilant’

The Indian Embassy at Jerusalem and the Representative Office of India in Palestine has issued advisories asking Indian nationals in respective countries to “remain vigilant” and “directly contact the Office” in case of emergency as a full-fledged war broke out between the ruling Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip and Israel killing at least 498 people from both sides.

As they entered southern Israel by land, sea and air, using paragliders, Hamas militants fired more than 2,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, according to the Israeli military. Hamas says it captured several Israeli soldiers near the border.

The surprise attack has killed 200 people and injured more than 1,100 in Israel. In the Gaza Strip side, there were 198 dead and about 1,500 wounded in Israel’s counterattack, media reports said.

“In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay close to safety shelters,” the Embassy said in its advisory.

The advisory gave relevant phone numbers in case of emergency and also provided URLs for Israeli Home Front Command and Preparedness brochures.

‘The Indian market is an important and growing source of revenue for the Israeli tourism industry’

We will utilise digital marketing and social media to reach millennials in India and promote Israel as a trendy and exciting destination, says Sammy Yahia, Director, Tourism, India & Philippines, Israel Ministry of Tourism, while speaking to Prasenjit Chakraborty.

Q. India & Israel share close ties. How does the Indian market play an important role for Israel tourism?

India and Israel have a strong relationship, marked by close political and economic ties. India is a growing market for Israeli tourism and plays an important role in the growth of the Israeli tourism industry. Several factors contribute to the significance of the Indian market for Israeli tourism. Firstly, India has a large and growing middle class with increasing disposable incomes, making travel abroad more accessible. Additionally, India has a rich cultural heritage and a deep interest in spiritual and religious tourism, making Israel, with its historic religious sites and cultural attractions, a popular destination for Indian travellers. In recent years, the number of Indian tourists visiting Israel has been growing rapidly, driven by a growing awareness of the country’s attractions and the availability of direct flights between the two countries. Overall, the Indian market is an important and growing source of revenue for the Israeli tourism industry, and both countries are working to strengthen their relationship and promote tourism between them.

Q.What is your plan to get more millennial tourists from India?

We will utilise digital marketing and social media to reach millennials in India and promote Israel as a trendy and exciting destination. Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook can be leveraged to showcase the unique experiences and attractions that Israel has to offer to this demographic.

Second is emphasise on adventure and outdoor activities. Millennial travellers are often seeking unique and adventurous experiences, so promoting outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and diving could be a strong selling point for Israel.Besides this, offering affordable and flexible travel packages to millennials will also help a lot. Because, the millennials often have limited budgets and are looking for flexibility in their travel plans. Offering affordable travel packages with options for customisation could make Israel a more attractive destination for this demographic.

Partnering with local influencers and travel bloggers can help to spread the word about Israel and showcase the country in a positive light. These influencers can create content that appeals to millennials and inspire them to visit.

Israel is rich in cultural and historical heritage, and promoting these attractions can be a powerful draw for millennial travellers who are interested in exploring new cultures and learning about history.

Q.Could you tell us about your International Tourism Partnership Programs? Post-Covid what is your plan for the India market?

The international tourism industry has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many countries and organisations have had to reassess their plans for attracting tourists.

Some of Post COVID-19 strategies that could be implemented to support the recovery of international tourism – implementing strict health and safety measures, such as regular COVID-19 testing and following protocols for social distancing, will be critical to restoring confidence in travel. Second is utilising digital technologies, such as contactless check-in, digital payments, and virtual tours, to enhance the tourist experience and minimise physical contact. Besides this, encouraging collaboration between government, the private sector, and the tourism industry to create a supportive environment for the growth and recovery of the tourism industry. As travel patterns change, it will be important to understand the new preferences and requirements of tourists, and adjust products and services accordingly, to remain competitive in the market.

Q. Israel pulled in a staggering amount of tourists in 2022, totalling a whopping 2.67 million. What is your target for 2023? What will be the contribution of India?

2023 will see more than 4.5 million travellers visiting Israel. From India i believe we will be in the same numbers as 2019 around 75000 travellers.

Q.Which traveller segments are your focus areas in India?

Israel offers a variety of adventure activities, such as trekking, rafting, and wildlife safaris, making it an attractive destination for those seeking an adrenaline rush. Apart from this, Israel is home to several luxury spa and wellness resorts, as well as historic palaces and forts that have been converted into luxury hotels, attracting tourists seeking a lavish and rejuvenating experience. Cultural and Heritage Tourism is another segment we are focussing on.

Q.How has tourism evolved in Israel in the last three years?

Israel is home to a number of religious sites that are of significant importance to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and religious tourism has been a major contributor to the growth of the tourism industry in the country. In recent years, the luxury tourism sector in Israel has experienced significant growth, with the development of a number of high-end hotels, resorts, and spas, as well as upscale dining and shopping options. Development of Adventure and Eco-Tourism is another segment which is also witnessing growth.

The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector has also been a growing segment of the tourism industry in Israel, as the country offers a range of modern conference and exhibition facilities and is well-connected to major cities in Europe and Asia. We are also actively promoting sustainable tourism practices, such as responsible waste management, energy efficiency etc.

Israel’s national carrier EL AL to resume non-stop services from Delhi and Mumbai in October

Israel’s national carrier EL AL announced that it is all set to resume non-stop flight services from Delhi and Mumbai to Israel from late October 2023, after a break of three years. The overfly agreement with Saudi Arabia and Oman for Israeli airlines was recently finalized, allowing for a shorter flight duration of 5.5 hours for Mumbai and 6.5 hours for Delhi. The flight ticket sales starting in April 2023, starting at $399 for Lite tickets. EL AL will operate four non-stop weekly flights from Mumbai to Israel on the Boeing 737 with Economy and Business service classes, and two non-stop weekly flights to Delhi on either the Boeing 787 or 777, both wide-bodied aircraft.

Commenting on this, Shlomi Zafrani, VP, Commerce and International Affairs, EL AL, said, “ We are excited to launch these new flight routes from India to Israel, which were made possible thanks to the overfly agreement with Oman. We anticipate there will be high demand for these flights due to vast business activity between the two countries, as well as constant growth in Indian tourism to Israel. Israel is a beloved vacation destination to the Indian people, whether it is a family-oriented trip or an organised group vacation.”

Air India is scheduled to increase their frequencies from existing 3 daily flights per week to 5 daily flights per week from 26th March 2023. In addition, they will be starting to operate direct flights on the sectors from Mumbai and Bengaluru by June and Oct respectively with competitive prices.

According to Sammy Yahia, Director of tourism India and Philippines, “The new announcements from El Al and Air India will boost tourism from and to Israel. The new air corridor over Saudi Arabia and Oman is likely to stimulate growth in the aviation sector. The airlines from India will be able to offer more competitive prices and reduce the flying time to five hours direct flight making it easier for passengers to travel. The statistics speaks for themselves, Jan and Feb 2023 is 24% better than 2019”. Yahia also said that Israel is a country with a rich cultural, historical, and religious heritage, and is home to a variety of attractions that offer something for everyone. “Whether you are interested in history, culture, nature, or just looking for a unique experience, Israel is a destination that is sure to deliver,” he said.

Israel removes all RT-PCR testing for incoming travellers

Effective 21, travellers to Israel no longer require Covid testing. The requirement to present a negative RT-PCR test prior to departure, complete RT-PCR test upon arrival followed by isolation has also been removed. Travellers are still required to complete an entry statement within the 48 hours from departure to Israel.

In addition to the removal of testing requirements, as of today, the mask mandate for international flights to/from Israel has been lifted as well.

Regarding the changes in entry protocols, Sammy Yahia, Director of Tourism to India & Philippines said, “This new development in Israel’s entry requirements is great step in being able to welcome visitors back to Israel. This will make traveling to Israel simpler and more relaxing, and your vacation will begin the moment you step off the plane. I for one am thrilled to have visitors enjoy my home country.”

All this developments come against the background of a slow and consistent rise in incoming tourism to Israel post-pandemic. 207,400 tourist entries were recorded in April of this year, compared with 30,200 in April 2021 and 405,000 in April 2019. This points towards to a continuation of the recovery trend for incoming tourism to Israel, with a significant increase in relation to April 2021 and a decrease of about 49% in relation to April 2019. The pace of tourist entries to date represents the basis for a forecast assessment of 1.5 to 2 million tourist entries in 2022.

 

Israel to allow entry to even unvaccinated tourists

Israel will allow unvaccinated tourists entry for the first time since the pandemic began as infections and deaths caused by the coronavirus decline, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced on Sunday.

“We are seeing a consistent decline in morbidity data,” Bennett said.

Israel shut its borders to travellers in early 2020 as the coronavirus spread worldwide. “It is time to gradually open what we were the first in the world to close,” the Prime Minister said.

The Jewish state was also an early trailblazer of a national vaccine rollout and among the first countries to demand a vaccination certificate, which it called the green pass, to enter a range of facilities.
Under new rules taking effect on March 1, tourists will need to take a PCR test before boarding a flight to Israel and a second one upon landing.

Israeli citizens will only be required to take the test upon arrival.

On Thursday Bennett cited a decline in infections when he announced an end to the green pass.
More than 10,000 new cases of Covid-19 were reported Sunday in Israel, down from a high of more than 85,000 daily cases in late January. A total of 9,841 people have died from the illness, including seven reported Saturday.
An attempt to open the borders to vaccinated visitors last November foundered after just a few weeks because of the fast-spreading Omicron coronavirus variant.