THE Embassy of Israel has welcomed the increase in the number of visitors from the Philippines in 2017 who have discovered their country, known as “The Holy Land” and “Start-up Nation.”
Data from Israel’s Ministry of Tourism showed that around 23,500 Filipinos traveled to Israel last year, up 61 percent from 14,600 in 2016.
Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines Effie Ben Matityau has expressed his optimism that more Filipinos will travel to Israel this year.
“Israel is the ‘Promised Land’ and the ‘Land of Many Promises’ that create the foundation for a steady growth in tourism. This year we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the friendship treaty between our two countries, and tourism stands as a strong pillar of our growing ties [as well as] people-to-people exchanges,” Matityau said.
Hassan Madah, director of tourism for India and the Philippines, confirmed that the 2017 record exceeded their full-year target of Filipino tourists traveling to Israel.
“We surpassed our target of 20,000 Filipinos traveling to Israel. Toward the end the year, we reached 23,500: a 61-percent increase from 2016. More Israeli players entered the market and the added good connectivity [of] flying from Manila to Israel via [two international airlines have] helped us in the growth of tourist arrivals,” Madah mentioned.
He noted that the Tourism Office in Manila is stepping up marketing efforts to encourage more Filipinos to travel to Israel this year. He emphasized that Philippine passport holders can enjoy visa-free access to Israel up to 90 days.
Overall, the embassy remarked that 2017 was a historic turning point for Israel’s incoming tourism. Embassy of Israel in Manila
Image credits: Photos by Israel Ministry of Tourism