№ ??? 〉 January 2019 437 〉 March 2023
March 2023
THE ISRAEL MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE
36 Honor to three Israeli hotels: entered the prestigious ranking of Forbes
10 Everything you should know about a business trip to Israel
04 Ella Zack Solomon
Director, Israeli Government Tourist Office in Germany: Welcome To ITB
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CONTENTS March 2023
ISRAEL TRAVEL NEWS
Israel Tourism Tourism to Israel begins 2023 strongly The Israel Ministry of Tourism “Look towards the future and the possibilities that 2023 holds” Trade & Business A Few Tips to Crush Your First Business Trip to Israel Trade and tourism on the rise among Abraham Accords states
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Hotels Fattal Continues To Expand Its Operations In Eilat With Two New Acquisitions
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Aviation Aviation News
Since 1979
Cassia Jerusalem Unveils New Brand and Boutique Hotel Renovation in Heart of the City Herods Vitalis Eilat is an Immersion into a World of Spas Luxury redefined: Dan Tel Aviv hotel is celebrating 75 years Honor to three Israeli hotels: entered the prestigious ranking of Forbes Exhibitions Higher Attendance Than Ever At The Imtm Exhibition
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11 Gush Etzion St., Givat Shmuel 5403011, Israel Tel: 972-3-5251646 Fax: 972-3-5251605 office@itn.co.il | www.itn.co.il
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Founded by: Amos Kinamon (1925-1994) Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Eyal Shmueli Managing Director: Tal Shmueli
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Editorial: Shy K. Segev Marketing: Rena Shay Graphic Designer: VM Layout: A.N. Computer Services Worldwide Circulation Canada
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Europe
4,000 1,300 9,800 2,700 650
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Israel
United Kingdom United States Rest of World
Wine Tourism Green Light For Hotels In New Zichron Yaakov. Wine Tourism Complex
Total
19,250 67,000
Estimated readership
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Digital copies - 35,000 distributed throughout the world
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YEARS OF
TEL AVIV
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
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WELCOME
March 2023
Shalom, After 4 years we are very happy to welcome all partners and friends of Israel during ITB 2023 in Berlin. As the main Tourism Fair worldwide, ITB is the best opportunity to initiate a perfect restart for tourism all over the world. The people are eager to return to travel, want to explore the world and have unique experiences. The past few years were very challenging but also a chance for rethinking and developing strategies fitting the changes of travel trends and in parallel investing in the Israel infrastructure including developing accommodation, attractions and places fitting the future, so Israel becomes one of the most attractive destinations to visit. It is a great pleasure for me to say that Israel’s travel industry is on its way to recovery and ready to break new records. The number of tourists to Israel raised during the last few months permanently. Our visitor statistics show that Germany ranks among TOP 5 and the German speaking market incl. Austria and Switzerland ranks among TOP 3 of our incoming markets to israel. I am very confident that we will reach the record numbers of 2019 very soon. This is a big motivation for us to continue our work in promoting Israel in 2023. We already launched our new advertising campaign which shows all the variety, diversity and uniqueness of Israel. With your help and cooperation, I am sure we can break our records from 2019. Beside our main campaign the Ministry of Tourism starts to focus on specific regions as well. One will be the Negev Desert. 60% of Israel is a desert – and this desert invites you to enjoy warm temperatures, especially in winter, and offers a perfect holiday for Activity & Nature Lovers. Direct flights from Europe to Ramon Airport in Eilat and attractive products for different target groups will help us to push this extraordinary place in Israel. Finally, on a personal note, I would like to thank the whole German Tourism Industry. It was a pleasure meeting and working with you and I appreciated every cooperation and partnership during the last 4 years. This is my last ITB for IGTO Germany, as my position as Director of Germany, Austria and Switzerland will draw to a close in the summer of 2023. The German market always played a very important role in Israel tourism. So I am very happy that we took the challenges of the last few years to the next level. Thank you all for supporting me and the tourism to Israel. I enjoyed these interesting years, and I am thankful for meeting you all. I wish all of you a successful ITB 2023. We look forward to seeing you in Israel – The land of Creation. Ella Zack Solomon Director, Israeli Government Tourist Office in Germany
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IMAGINATION SHAPES THE WORLD
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ISRAEL TOURISM
March 2023
TOURISM TO ISRAEL BEGINS 2023 STRONGLY
Israel recorded 271,400 entries into the country in January 2023, according to figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics
I srael recorded 271,400 257,400 were tourists who stayed at least one night, according to figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics. This is sharply higher than 46,700 entries into the country in January 2022 when there were still severe restrictions entries into the country in January 2023, of which on entry into Israel because of the Covid pandemic. In January 2020, just before the pandemic struck, there was a record 330,000 entries into the country including 308,500 tourists who stayed at least
the record 4.9 million entries into Israel in 2019 before the pandemic including a record 4.5 million tourists who stayed at least one night. At the same time the number of Israelis traveling abroad now exceeds pre- pandemic levels. In January 2023, Israelis made 611,100 trips abroad, reports the Central Bureau of Statistics, compared with 185,400 trips abroad when travel restrictions still applied and the previous January record of 543,000 in 2020 before the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.
one night. Israel recorded 2.9 million entries into the country in 2022, of which 2.7 million were tourists who stayed at least one night, according to figures from the Central
Bureau of Statistics. Restrictions on the entry of foreign tourists into Israel were only fully removed in May 2022 and as a result tourist numbers still have a long way to go to surpass
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ISRAEL TOURISM
THE ISRAEL MINISTRY OF TOURISM “LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE AND THE POSSIBILITIES THAT 2023 HOLDS” T he Ultimate Mediterranean Coastline - The Mediterranean coastline of Israel is a feast
As we look towards the future and the possibilities that 2023 holds, it’s time to start planning your next adventure. What better place to visit than the vibrant, diverse, and endlessly fascinating country of Israel. From the bustling streets and nightlife of Tel Aviv to the ancient corridors of Jerusalem, Israel offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a history buff, a beach lover, culture seeker or a foodie, you’ll find it all here. So, pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready to discover why Israel should be at the top of your travel list for 2023.
for the senses. Imagine white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and a vibrant atmosphere that never stops. Tel Aviv known as “the city that never sleeps”, is the perfect place to start your journey, where one can enjoy the sun, sand, and surf of some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, like Gordon beach or Frishman beach. The culinary scene in Tel Aviv is nothing short of amazing, with a variety of delicious flavors and styles from all around the world. At night, the city comes alive with a pulsating nightlife that will keep you dancing until the early hours of the morning. But it’s
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March 2023
National Park. A new, state-of-the-art Visitors Center was recently officially opened at the Tel Megiddo National Park, promising tourists an enhanced visiting experience. The Visitors Center, which employs the latest technology, emphasizes the connection between Tel Megiddo and the Bible, alongside displays of historical artifacts. Tel Megiddo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the most excavated archaeological site in Israel over the years, overlooking about thirty different cities from various time periods in the history of the Land of Israel. Megiddo was one of the strongest and most important cities of Canaan. The remains of the palaces, temples, gates, and the city’s sophisticated water system are evidence of its great power. Jerusalem – A city of magic and radiance – Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and by far one of the most famous and fascinating cities in the world, where thousands of years of history resides seamlessly intertwined with modern day life. As a UNESCO recognized heritage site, discover the overwhelming power of this 3,000-year-old city, it’s innumerable historic sites of great archaeological and those of faiths’ significances. It’s magical walkways and panoramic vistas that leave lasting impressions. It is said that one doesn’t have to be religious to visit Jerusalem. A tour of the Old City of Jerusalem is an opportunity to answer the “curiosities” that most visitors have but is not all about history or faith. The modern side of Jerusalem is composed of a multitude of museums, an outdoor market that convert into a nightly youthful playground, modern architecture, cultural events, and of course the great shopping, cuisine, and vibrant nightlife, all mixed together into a fine cocktail of experiences that are uniquely Israeli.
not just about the party scene - Tel Aviv https://visit.tel-aviv.gov.il/ is also a city rich in culture, with world-class museums, galleries, and performance spaces. Come and experience the Mediterranean coastline of Israel and discover why Tel Aviv is a place where culture, cuisine, and nightlife meet. Adventurous Desert - Experience the rugged beauty and unspoiled wilderness of the Negev desert in Israel. This vast and ancient desert is a paradise for adventure seekers, offering thrills like sand boarding down towering dunes, hiking well marked trails or mountain biking along camel paths carved into the sand, or simply exploring ancient canyons. But it’s not just about the adrenaline rush - the Negev is also home to a rich cultural heritage and a unique culinary scene. Immerse yourself in the hospitality of the Bedouin people and discover the delicious flavors of traditional desert cuisine. The Negev desert is an unforgettable destination that offers a perfect blend of raw nature, adventure, wildlife, diversity of culture,
and culinary experiences. Pack your comfortable hiking shoes and sun hat and come explore this amazing desert land in Israel. Unique Cultural Experiences – recently announced as one of UNWTO ‘tourist villages’ Kfar Kama holds an ideal place to enhance the visit to Israel. Kfar Kama encompasses historic narrative about the Circassian community living near the Kfar Tabor, which was founded over 150 years ago by Muslim Circassians, emigrating to Israel from the Caucasus region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The village, which is one of two such Circassian villages in Israel, (the other is Rehaniya), allows the tourist to travel through a time tunnel. The village is full of restaurants, family riding attractions, a dairy offering workshops on cheese making processes and the Circassian Heritage Conservation Center, which offers tours of the old village alleyways, a sound and light show, and tastings from the Circassian cuisine. History was Never so Innovative - a New Visitors Center Opens at Tel Megiddo
Israel Travel News • 9
TRADE& BUSINESS
March 2023
A FEW TIPS TO CRUSH YOUR FIRST BUSINESS TRIP TO ISRAEL In the last years, Israel has evolved as a key hub in the high-tech sector, development largely encouraged by innovation grants offered to various fields, including hardware, software, communications, life sciences, IoT, cyber, fintech, and others. It doesn’t come as a surprise that Israel is nicknamed “The Startup Nation”
I n the last years, Israel has evolved as a key hub in the high-tech sector, develop- ment largely encouraged by innovation grants offered to various fields, including hardware, software, communications, life sciences, IoT, cyber, fintech, and others. It doesn't come as a sur - prise that Israel is nicknamed "The Startup Nation." Disruptive in - novation in different industries is changing the corporate landscape, bringing about new business chal- lenges and opportunities alike. The only country that comes close to Israel as far as its innovative spirit is concerned is the United Arab Emirates. Still, the recent peace agreement between the two might open up further oppor - tunities – the deal will accelerate growth, create jobs, and hopefully
lead to a new era of peace. Business trips are becoming commonplace as develop - ment in Israel is versatile (and continually growing), so the biggest asset you can give your company is being fully pres - ent. Israel is an entrepreneurial powerhouse. VIP experiences are available to business trav- elers, so there's ample op - portunity to discover unique sights, sounds, and activities – all you have to do is book a luxury business tour to Israel. Traveling in style and luxury doesn't necessarily mean hav - ing the most expensive experi - ence but adjusting your travel to what you value the most. Here are some tips to remem - ber for your first international business trip. Being aware
of these factors (and others) will help you avoid issues or miscommunication leading to unfortunate business results. You'll Probably Want to Book Your Hotel Near Rothschild Boulevard Make sure your hotel room has everything you need to stay connected and produc- tive, such as fast Wi-Fi, a multitude of power outlets, in-room phones, and so on. Search the Internet to find hotels that are located close to your business meetings; your presence is very much re - quired, so prepare thoroughly. If the hotel has easy access to public transportation, you can enjoy a less stressful journey by letting someone else do
the driving. If you have some time off from your business meetings, explore all that Israel has to offer. Try to book a room in a hotel near Roth - schild Boulevard, a vibrant cultural center that accom - modates music performances, ballets, musicals, plays, etc. In case you didn't know, the Israeli palate has grown more refined, so you can eat something different, like sfenj, khachapuri, and ful. Understand The Business Culture in Tel Aviv If it's your first time traveling to Israel on business, there are certain things to be aware of. Israel has a distinct business culture that you might find astonishing, so take the time
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TRADE& BUSINESS
March 2023
Traveling in style and luxury doesn ׳ t necessarily mean having the most expensive experience but adjusting your travel to what you value the most
done on time, say it. • Israelis Work Sundays
improve your comprehension and vocabulary, but it's rec- ommended to take notes, get a hard copy, and a dictionary as you learn. Most impor - tantly, listen to the entire section before passing on to the written material. Learning Hebrew is one of the best de- cisions you can make before your trip to Israel if you want to do business or anything at all. Wrapping It Up Tel Aviv might very well be the next Silicon Valley, but it's a good idea to extend your sights to the likes of Jerusa - lem, Haifa, and Beer Sheva. Jerusalem, for instance, is home to roughly 400 start - ups, with its strongest busi- nesses in sectors such as AI, biotech and life sciences, machine learning, and health tech. Entrepreneurs enter the scene at a rapid pace, and without a website or office, it can be difficult, if not impos - sible, to locate ventures that align with your interests with- out the help of local partners. Combine forces and share experiences, opportunities, and profits.
Through Thursdays. It's worth noting that the standard work week is from Sunday to Thurs - day. Even if some companies remain open during the week - end, business officially ends on Friday evening. Friday, af - ter sundown, and Saturday is part of the Shabbat. Rules in- clude but aren't limited to not working, not using electricity, and not conducting any form of business. It's Highly Recommended to Know Hebrew Before Visiting Israel International business is conducted mostly in English, but if you want to impress your new contacts, learning a few basic phrases in He- brew doesn't hurt. Don't let linguistic anxiety have you avoid this age-old language. Audio books make it possible to learn Hebrew while doing something else, so they help even if audiobooks don't replace grinding through. The language you hear pas- sively is still being absorbed. Audio books to learn Hebrew
to learn how business deals are done to display a level of respect and consideration to your peers. Business partners invest time into building rap - port, meaning you'll be treat - ed more like a friend rather than a formal business con - nection. If you want to share a more productive relationship, leverage the power of infor- mal interactions by inviting a business partner to lunch to seal the deal. Here are other basic rules to familiarize your - self with: • A Handshake Is the Typical Greeting. A good handshake conveys confidence and poise, so it's not just a useless formality. You're doing much more than saying "hello." Using the left hand isn't con- sidered respectful by Arab Israelis because the Islamic principles prescribe that the left hand should be used only for the removal of dirt and cleaning. • Building Strong Networks Usually Requires "Chutzpah."
Chutzpah can be defined as audacity, directness, incred- ible gut, and self-confidence. Israelis are renowned for their direct and assertive style, meaning their style of communication is frank and sometimes blunt. Get straight to the point no matter what you're trying to say. Divergent opinions are accepted, as they can lead to some benefits. • The Dress Code in Israel Is Quite Forgiving. Israel is a pro - gressive, relaxed country, so choose a smart-casual style. A good way to achieve this look is to pair pieces of different formality levels, like chinos and a blazer or a pencil skirt and a vibrant sweater. • You Should Arrive on Time. Israelis tend to be punctual, so try to arrive on time, yet don't be surprised if the business meeting starts later. It's accept - able to arrive later than the designated time. Still, if you ar - rive about one half-hour later, it may be considered rude. If you really need things to be
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TRADE& BUSINESS
TRADE AND TOURISM ON THE RISE AMONG ABRAHAM ACCORDS STATES An active U.S. role is seen as critical in encouraging other countries to join the circle of peace, the Abraham Accords Peace Institute reports
T ies among Abraham Ac - cords nations are grow- ing stronger despite the normalization agree - ments’ lack of popularity in the Arab partner countries. This is according to the Abraham Accords Peace Institute (AAPI)’s recently released 2022 Annual Report, which examines avenues to improve and expand the agreements initiated by
President Donald Trump in 2020. Normalization deals have been signed by Israel, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and Kosovo. Trade Total trade between Israel and the Abraham Accords countries increased from $593 million in 2019 to $3.47 billion in 2022. Israel imported $2.57 billion
worth of goods and services from these countries last year, up from $378.3 three years earlier, and exported $903.9 million in goods and services, up from $224.8. million. Tourism Some 5,200 tourists entered Israel from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Kosovo and Sudan in 2022 (up from 3,500 in 2019), as
compared with 470,700 Israeli tourists visiting those same countries in 2022 (up from 39,900 in the earlier period). Asher Fredman, the director for Israel at AAPI, said that this disparity in numbers comes for several reasons. “Given the seven-plus decades of anti-Israel demonization and misinformation that was prevalent in these countries, it
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March 2023
March 2023
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Israel must overcome obstacles to increased tourism to Israel through marketing campaigns, improved security processes and infrastructure, and increasing the number of incoming delegations and exchange programs
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will naturally take time until large numbers of citizens from these countries feel comfortable visiting Israel,” said Fredman. “Additional reasons for low tourism from the Accords countries to Israel are challenges related to obtaining visas and transiting through Ben- Gurion Airport, and concerns by some citizens of Accords countries that they may face threats or harassment from Palestinians. We are working with all stakeholders to overcome these challenges”. According to Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, director of the Project on Regional Middle East Developments at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, “Israelis are much more inclined to travel than others, and the UAE is a big attraction for them, especially as a welcoming Arab state. But I also think that bringing Arab tourists to Israel is very important in the effort to socialize the Accords”. Popularity of the Abraham Accords Another key finding of the 2022 report regards the support for the Abraham
Accords in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with at most 25% of the public (among Emiratis) holding a very positive or somewhat positive view of the Accords. While acknowledging that AAPI is still collecting and analyzing data, Fredman said “it appears that there is a sense among parts of the population that the Accords have not directly benefited them, while the decision to normalize relations with Israel has brought harsh criticism from those which continue to reject peace. “To change this,” he added, “Israel and its allies in the United States must advance projects that mutually benefit Israelis and the people in the Accords countries, and we must communicate the impact of those benefits. Israel must overcome obstacles to increased tourism to Israel through marketing campaigns, improved security processes and infrastructure, and increasing the number of incoming delegations and exchange programs”.
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AVIATION
March 2023
EL AL STARTING FORT LAUDERDALE FLIGHTS TO ISRAEL THIS FALL The airline says it carried more than 100,000 passengers on more than 450 flights between Miami and Tel Aviv last year
E L AL Israel Airlines intends to expand its Florida service to Tel Aviv with a holiday- focused seasonal schedule from Fort Lauderdale-
AIR SERBIA RETURNS TO ISRAEL Air Serbia is expected to return to Israel starting this April after a long absence from the local market
Hollywood International Airport in September, and year-round operations starting in the spring of 2024. The new seasonal flights will be timed to coincide with the Jewish High Holidays through October, the airline said in an announcement this week. There will be six flights: three each in September and in October. Management did not specify a date for the start of the carrier’s regularly scheduled flights next year. The company also announced it intends to add a sixth weekly flight on its Miami International Airport to Tel Aviv route effective May 23. The flight will depart Saturday evenings from Miami at 11:30 p.m. and arrive at Ben-Gurion airport at 6:30 p.m. the following evening. “EL AL is thrilled to continue
opening new routes and increasing our service in the U.S.”, said Marc Cavaliere, EL AL’s senior vice president for the Americas, in a statement. “We’ll be operating more than 40 flights a week to Israel, continuing our mission to be the bridge between Israel and the world”. The airline says it carried more than 100,000 passengers on more than 450 flights between Miami and Tel Aviv last year, and demand for Florida to Israel air travel is on the rise. “As demand for travel continues to increase from Florida to Israel, across all segments, we’re confident that the new service to Fort Lauderdale will exceed our customers’ expectation for service, convenience and value”, Cavaliere said.
A ir Serbia stopped its flights to Israel about three years ago in March 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic. Starting April 6, Air Serbia is expected to operate 3 weekly flights from Tel Aviv on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, most likely with aircraft from the company’s Airbus A320 family. The flights are expected to depart at different times depending on the day of the week. According to the reservation system, flight prices to Belgrade currently start at about 230 USD, which is an attractive
price in relation to the length of the flight. Tel Aviv will be the 22nd destination that Air Serbia is launching this year, as part of its effort to restore the company’s route network before further expanding it. This year the company announced its desire to open lines to Tianjin in China and Cuba as well as increase frequencies from Belgrade to New York. Arkia is also expected to launch a direct flight line from Tel Aviv to Belgrade with three weekly flights starting at the end of March.
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AVIATION
March 2023
AIR SEYCHELLES TO OPERATE MORE FLIGHTS TO ISRAEL
Air Seychelles will operate additional flights between Seychelles and Tel Aviv due to growing demand
B esides the normal twice-weekly commercial flights, additional flights have been added to meet the heavy demand along with charters from Tel Aviv to Mauritius and Maldives. A delegation from Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean,
recently participated in the International Mediterranean Tourism Market in Tel Aviv. The acting chief executive of Air Seychelles, Sandy Benoiton, said, “It’s a great opportunity for us to represent Seychelles in the Israeli marketplace. Israelis now have more destinations
to choose from than ever before, and solidifying new contracts and meeting with existing partners reaps benefits for a whole year. He added that Air Seychelles has firmly become the carrier of choice to the Indian Ocean islands for Israelis and that Air Seychelles “intention is
to maintain our market share on the route despite growing competition from other carriers”. The national carrier of Seychelles will operate 26 flights in April between Seychelles and Tel Aviv carrying over 2000 Israeli visitors to the island.
AIR MONTENEGRO RETURNS TO TEL AVIV
M ontenegro is becoming an increasingly central destination among the Israeli audience, as evidenced by the increase in the number of flights and the number of Israeli companies that will operate flights this year to various destinations in the country. And now we have learned that Air Montenegro will also return to operate direct charter flights from Tel Aviv to Montenegro, after having operated similar flights in the summer-spring season of 2022. Air Montenegro plans to
operate direct flights between Tel Aviv and Podgorica in the coming spring-summer season, between the months of April and October. Initially, the company will operate 3 weekly flights and during the summer months the company will operate 5 weekly flights. This is an increase in the company’s activity compared to last year, when the company operated 2 flights a week in the spring and three flights a week from July. In the winter months, the company stopped its activities in Israel. Since these are charter flights, the flight tickets will not be
sold through the airline’s website but through Israeli tourism wholesalers only. The flights already appear for booking in flight search engines such as SkyScanner. Also this year, Air Montenegro will operate in the format of charter flights, which will be marketed by tourism wholesalers in Israel. As we
previously published, Air Montenegro is interested in operating regular flights
from Tel Aviv that will be sold directly by the
company. However, the lack of an appropriate aviation agreement between the countries limits the company in operating such a line at the present time.
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THE OLD CITY OF AKKO INVITES YOU TO DISCOVER ITS SECRETS ABOVEGROUND AND BELOW
Old Akko (Acre) is a port city situated on a peninsula on the Mediterranean coast in northern Israel. It is known for its well-preserved old city walls. A visit to this ancient city is an important part of the Holy Land experience and one of Israel’s main tourist destinations. Currently home to thousands of residents, Akko is a study of contrasts – the convergence of East and West, modernity and antiquity, beauty and ruins. Known for centuries as the gateway to the Holy Land due to its location as a port of entry for international dignitaries and trade, Akko provides a unique glimpse into the Crusader and Ottoman periods in the region. The subterranean crusader city was revealed and restored under the Ottoman city above. This extraordinary phenomenon was awarded World Heritage Site by UNESCO. POINTS OF INTEREST: The Knights’ Kingdom A 5,000-year old story unfolds inside the halls of the citadel - the museum’ displays and films projected on the walls tell the story of the crusades. During this tour, each visitor receives a headset, and can choose one of 10 different languages. The Hospitaller Fortress The Hospitaller Order, which thrived in Jerusalem during the First Crusader Kingdom (1099-1187) transferred its headquarters to Akko during the Second Crusader Kingdom (1191-1291). The
Hospitallers expanded their headquarters and rebuilt the site, which consisted of two to three floors around a central court as
well as underground sections. The Templars Tunnel
The Templars were a military-monastic order who – in the name of the pope – aided pilgrims and the ailing coming from Europe to visit the holy sites of the Land of Israel. MORE POINTS OF INTEREST: The colorful Market Street and Bazaars are the main thoroughfare of the Old City, running from north to south. One cannot visit the city without tasting the delicious dishes at the wonderful Chef Restaurants and paying a visit at the unique Boutique Hotels. A ferry from Akko to Haifa and from Haifa to Akko is a special experience that offers tourists the chance to enjoy the spectacular views of the cities by sea (times being subject to weather condition). There are Churches, Mosques and Synagogue in Old Akko. Some of them are opened to visits. The “Or Torah” Synagogue in the new city is a site worth seeing. So is the “Al Basha” Turkish Bath and the Seraya, a structure built during Turkish rule in Akko, in the late 18th century, where the offices of the civilian regime officials were located. It is also recommended to visit the galleries in the Old City and the “Okashi” Art Museum as well as the “Treasures in the Walls” Museum.
Old Akko, a city of art and fine cuisine In addition to the unique historical sites of Old Akko, it is known as a culinary powerhouse, combining authentic food stalls like Hummus and Falafel alongside fine Chef Restaurants. Throughout the year the city hosts many festivals, exhibitions and cultural music performances as well as new attractions such as: an audio guided tour adapted for children with the “Cool Knight”, an Augmented Reality Experience (for now only in Hebrew) ‘Adventure in Akko’ and more.
OLD AKKO (ACRE) Akko is a city that has been shaped by the Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Mamelukes, Ottomans and British, and fittingly is today home to brilliantly coexistent mixed population of Muslims, Jews, Christians, Druze and Baha’i. Akko is a study in contrasts - the convergence of east and west, modernity and antiquity, beauty and ruins.
The Bahá’í gardens in Akko, © Bahá’í International Community
Admiral Sir Sidney Smith from the AR Experience ‘Adventure Akko’
For more information on the city of Old Akko: Phone: +972-4-9956-706/7 | www.akko.org.il/en/ Write to us: info@akko.org.il
AVIATION
A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY’S INCOME FROM CROSSING FEES IN ISRAELI SKIES In the past year, there was a rapid recovery from the COVID-19 epidemic and an increase in the number of international flights in Israeli airspace. Accordingly, the revenues of the Airports Authority from crossing fees in the airspace also increased significantly. The winners as expected: Royal Jordanian and Emirates.
W arming up in tourist relations between Israel and Slovakia: starting with the upcoming summer flight schedule, direct flights will be operated from Tel Aviv to several destinations in Slovakia. Starting in April, the travel company Ophir Tours will operate direct flights to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The flights will be operated between the dates 07.06-04.10.2023 on Wednesdays with Cyprus Airways. The flights will land at the Bratislava airport (BTS) and will last about 3.5 hours. All Ofir Tours flights include baggage of 23 kg and hand luggage weighing 8 kg are included in the ticket price. In addition to direct flights, Ofir Tours will offer organized trips in combination with a trip to nearby Austria, holiday packages. Until today, arriving in Bratislava was mainly possible by flying to Vienna in Austria and traveling by car, and from now on a direct flight will be possible. From now on it will also be possible to fly directly to Bratislava and combine a trip in the region, including Austria. In addition, the Genesis tourism company will operate direct flights to the town of Pishtani, which is located in the Ternava district of Slovakia, starting this April. The town is considered a sought-after spa destination that offers a relatively high-quality experience at a cheap price, a significant advantage in an era where prices for tourists in Europe continue to rise. Initially, one weekly flight from Tel Aviv will be operated, with an option for additional flights in the future. DIRECT FLIGHTS TO NEW DESTINATIONS IN SLOVAKIA
I t appears that in 2022 the Airports Authority (RAS) almost doubled its income from fees collected from airlines that cross the skies of Israel without landing there (“flight control fee for crossing the airspace”). A total of 6.396 million dollars were paid by the foreign airlines to the RAS last year, compared to the following amounts in the previous years: 2019 – $3,443,068, 2020 – $1,097,985, 2021 – $3,334,349. First place went to the Royal Jordanian airline which is traditionally considered to be the highest paying toll in question due to its need to cross Israel on a large part of its flights to the west. In 2022 alone, Royal Jordanian paid the RAS an amount of 1.696 million dollars, almost 26% of the total amount. This is when between the years 2019-2021 the Jordanian airline paid a total of about 2.8 million dollars. In second place came the Emirates company, which paid an amount of 1.464 million dollars for this fee alone, an increase of hundreds of percent from the year 2021, which amounted to revenues of only 290 thousand dollars from the Emirates airline. It is interesting to see that in the numbers of January 2023 alone, Emirates overtook Royal Jordanian and paid
the RAS an amount of 160 thousand dollars, compared to 127 thousand dollars paid by the Jordanian company. It is difficult to say at this stage whether the trend will continue and Emirates will be the highest in fees even in the 2023 summary, but there is no doubt that this is a new and significant revenue channel for Israel. Every airline that crosses Israeli airspace pays an air control fee to the airport authority. An agreement between the State of Israel and Jordan allows foreign airlines to fly in the airspace of both countries. The fee is determined by the maximum take-off weight of the aircraft. Due to the nature of Emirates’ fleet which consists only of 777 and A380 aircraft it will always pay the highest fee which as of 2023 is $307.85 per flight. This is when a typical fee for aircraft smaller than the 737 or A320 models will be about $142.
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March 2023
OMAN JOINS SAUDI IN OPENING ITS AIRSPACE FOR ISRAELI CARRIERS Israeli airlines can now fly over Oman after the Gulf nation opened its airspace for all carriers
I sraeli airlines can now fly over Oman after the Gulf nation opened its airspace for all carriers that meet the civil aviation authority’s requirements. Israel’s foreign minister Eli Cohen thanked Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said for the decision which will shorten flight times to Asia. “It’s an historic and significant decision for the Israeli economy and the Israeli
destinations such as Thailand and India would be shortened by at least two hours. Israel and Oman have no diplomatic relations, but the Gulf state seemed to have been less reluctant in publicising its relations with Israel. In 2018, the late Sultan Qaboos received Netanyahu in Muscat. Oman was one of the first countries to congratulate the UAE and Bahrain, who established diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020.
Israel
allowed Israeli airlines to use its airspace but because Omani airspace was closed, Israeli carriers could not use the route to fly to Asia. The
Saudi Arabian decision came after United States President Joe Biden visited the region last year. Flight from Israel to Asian
traveller”, Cohen said. Last year, Saudi Arabia
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The latest property of the Atlas boutique hotels chain is the "Backstage Hotel", which took an old entertainment center and turned it into the best hotel in town With 16 hotels in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Atlas is a leading boutique hotel chain in Israel, providing a unique and unforgettable hospitality experience. Each and every hotel was born from an original vision and built according to a unique concept that is perfectly adapted to the spirit of the place, its history and the human-cultural fabric that characterizes its environment. The latest property to join the Atlas family is the "Backstage Hotel", which took an old entertainment center – in this case the Ohel stage theater – and turned it into a funky location, located on the Dizengoff Square. The 48-room Backstage is filled with delightful theatrical touches that make up for the small but tastefully appointed rooms. Broadway mirrors in the bathroom, four-story open lobby, a free photo booth where you can dress up in antique clothes and hats (provided), reception desk with quotes from famous directors and writers (Shakespeare is particularly prominent). The dining area is more like a living room filled with comfy couches rather than the typical tables and chairs. A red velvet curtain adorns the long wall of the lobby proclaiming in unsubtle terms, “It’s showtime!” Phone: 03-9207777 | Website: www.atlas.co.il reservations@atlashotels.co.il VACATION IN THE WORLD OF BEHIND THE SCENES AND PERFORMANCE IN THE NEW "BACKSTAGE HOTEL"
AVIATION
March 2023
VIRGIN ATLANTIC INCREASES FREQUENCY IN TEL AVIV Officially joins the SkyTeam airline alliance
BRITISH AIRWAYS IS UPGRADING THE LINE TO TEL AVIV
T he Virgin Atlantic airline officially announced this morning the expansion of the flight schedule to Tel Aviv with a second daily flight starting on March 26. In total, the company is expected to operate 14 direct weekly flights between Tel Aviv and London Heathrow and its seat supply will be 150,000 per year. The addition of the second flight will also connect Tel Aviv to the company’s extensive network of routes to North America. In addition, Virgin announces that it is examining the possibility of operating the company’s new A330-900neo aircraft on the route. The new planes include the company’s newest seating sections that
offer a significant upgrade compared to the existing products on the Boeing 787 or Airbus A330 planes that currently operate on the route to Tel Aviv. Virgin Atlantic currently operates a daily flight between Tel Aviv and London mainly with a Boeing 787-9 wide-body aircraft that includes 258 seats. 31 seats in business class, 35 seats in premium class and 192 seats in tourist class. Virgin Atlantic’s first daily flight will depart from Tel Aviv at 07:20 and arrive at Heathrow Airport (LHR) 5 hours later at 10:55 (local time). The second flight will leave Tel Aviv at 17:30 and land in London at 21:05 local time.
British Airways currently operates two daily flights from Tel Aviv to London Heathrow Airport, a morning flight that departs mainly on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and the second an evening flight on 777-200 aircraft. Aviation news has now learned that British Airways will regularly add the latest Airbus A350 aircraft to the line to Tel Aviv, which include the company’s newest classes
B eginning in July, British Airways will operate two daily flights to Tel Aviv: one flight with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and the other, as mentioned, with the company’s latest Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, which will replace the 777- 200ER aircraft that currently operate some of the flights on the line. Already in 2019, British announced the placement of the A350 aircraft on the route to Tel Aviv, but these disappeared from the local landscape quite quickly following the Corona epidemic.
Already today, British operates modern classes in wide-body planes, with bed seats for every passenger in business class (called Club World). However, the company’s newest flagship products are installed in the A350 planes and in light of everything they constitute another upgrade of the product offered to the Israeli public. In fact, it will be one of the high-quality products offered on flights from Tel Aviv and the only ones that include completely private suites with a roll-up door in business class.
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AVIATION
March 2023
AIR INDIA IS INCREASING OPERATIONS IN ISRAEL
Air India is expected to expand its operations in Israel starting this April. The national airline of India will offer 5 weekly flights from Tel Aviv to Delhi on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays instead of 3 flights until the month of March. According to the reservation system, the new flights will also be operated with 787 Dreamliner aircraft
at 06:55 in the morning. A check in the reservation system shows that currently the prices of flights to Delhi start at a price of $690. A few months ago there were the first indications that Air India was interested in adding flights from Tel Aviv to new destinations in India including Bangalore and Mumbai. Since then, the flights have already been removed from the flight schedule and have not yet been reassigned or posted for sale, and in the meantime we also published that the Ministry of Transportation is considering limiting flights that pass over Saudi Arabia and Oman.
T he increase in flights from Tel Aviv will allow the company to offer more connecting flights to domestic destinations within India such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Calcutta and Goa to which the company will offer connection flights from Tel Aviv as mentioned five times a week. Increasing the frequency also has a
significant advantage in terms of connections to the East when, starting in April, Air India will offer connecting flights to destinations such as Bangkok and Singapore 5 times a week with a stop in Delhi. The flights to Delhi (flight AI140) will continue to depart at 22:15 in the evening from Tel Aviv and will land in Delhi
IBERIA UPGRADES THE LINE TO TEL AVIV Iberia continues to equip itself with new Airbus A350 planes and now the line to Tel Aviv also gets to receive the newest planes in the company’s fleet
I n December, Iberia introduced a new generation of A350 aircraft that will enter the company’s service with completely new and promising seating sections. Now it seems that according to the booking system, starting at the end of February, the Spanish airline is expected to operate the company’s Airbus A350-900 planes on the route to Tel Aviv twice a week on Sundays and Thursdays. This after planes of this model of Iberia were recently occasional guests at the airport. The Airbus A350 aircraft fleet is Iberia’s youngest with 16 aircraft with an average age of only two and a half years, with
two of the planes (named A350 NEXT) already including Iberia’s new and promising seating classes that should offer a significant upgrade in the product offered to the customer. These are not expected to arrive in Israel at the moment and are currently approved for flight only to the countries of the European Union, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Mexico. Today, Iberia operates a daily flight from Tel Aviv to Madrid on its Airbus A330- 200 aircraft or that of its sister company Level, which is also owned by Iberia’s parent company, IAG. However, starting in April, the company is expected to
switch to two daily flights from Tel Aviv with narrow-body A321neo aircraft, some of which will be operated by the subsidiary Iberia Express, which mainly operates short-haul flights for the company.
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AVIATION
March 2023
In November, Israir announced to the stock exchange that it signed the Memorandum of Understanding for a possible sale of the last two ATR aircraft owned (ATR72-500), subject to the aircraft’s proper test ISRAIR COMPLETED THE SALE OF ATR AIRCRAFT T he sale comes following the company’s strategic decision to move to be a single sample airplane fleet (Airbus A320) and thus say goodbye to the ATR fleets it owned.
TOWARDS THE SUMMER: TURKISH UPGRADES THE LINE TO TEL AVIV
Israir now announces that the company has completed the sale of the two 500-atr72 aircraft, which it owned, to a foreign airline. In exchange for the two aircraft, Israir received a total of 13 million USD, with the completion of the sale of ATR aircraft, on its entire component, is expected to yield a one-time capital profit of about 2 million USD. In the
Israir now announces that the company has completed the sale of the two 500- atr72 aircraft, which it owned, to a foreign airline
Turkish Airlines currently operates 10-12 flights between Tel Aviv and Istanbul on the company’s aircraft or the AnadoluJet brand. Most flights are currently operated on aircraft from Airbus A321 or Boeing 737. Smaller than the flights are powered by Boeing 777 or Airbus A330 aircraft. A nd now, towards the next summer season, we are expected to see more from Turkish’s new generation aircraft, including Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350, which are considered the latest aircraft in the company’s fleet. Turkish Airlines is expected to operate up to 14 daily flights from Tel Aviv during the summer season, including 10 flights to Istanbul (IST), 3 flights to Istanbul Sabih Goshen (SAW) and daily flight to Antalya (AYT). In addition, Turkish will run 6 weekly flights on Boeing 787 on Monday (TK785, TK789), Tuesday (TK789), Friday (TK837, TK785) and Saturday (TK789). Altogether, the company is expected to operate about 10 weekly flights on the new aircrafts.
announcement, Israir notes the benefits of moving to a uniform fleet including a uniform pilot and maintenance system, with all of the exchange parts being only one aircraft type.
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