On March 1st Yehezkel Pollyack, Economic, Commercial and Tourism Affairs Counselor of the Israel Embassy, said in the interview to a BANKO correspondent that in 2006 Israel expects 30-40% growth in international tourist flow. According to Pollack the country is taking measures to stimulate the flow extending the hotel base and developing its infrastructure. Besides, it is planned to quadruple a number of flights to Israel from Russia and Ukraine. At the moment El Al airline realizes two flights per day and three flights on Sundays, having reduced tickets price to Tel-Aviv from $450 to $250.
Tour operating companies that specialize in the Israel market confirm that Russia has a potential to increase its tourist flow referring to the ‘postponed’ demand factor. Yuryi Dukhovnyi, Executive Director of Art-Business-Center, commented as follows: ‘interest in the destination has been increasing since the middle of 2005. Traditional demand for Israel is recovering after the majority of people were simply afraid to go to there due to the known reasons’.
Elena Keller, Director of CMC Tour agrees, pointing out double increase in demand comparing to 2005. However, Keller outlined the current flaws of the destination: growth in accommodation and transport cost at 10–15%.
Moreover, according to her, visa-issuing period can come up to two weeks during high season, while upon the official regulation it cannot exceed three days. Furthermore, the most important negative factor was mentioned by Lyudmila Zolotukhina, General Director of Big travel 2000 - unstable situation in the Middle East that might affect the tourism perspectives in the region.
Tour operating companies that specialize in the Israel market confirm that Russia has a potential to increase its tourist flow referring to the ‘postponed’ demand factor. Yuryi Dukhovnyi, Executive Director of Art-Business-Center, commented as follows: ‘interest in the destination has been increasing since the middle of 2005. Traditional demand for Israel is recovering after the majority of people were simply afraid to go to there due to the known reasons’.
Elena Keller, Director of CMC Tour agrees, pointing out double increase in demand comparing to 2005. However, Keller outlined the current flaws of the destination: growth in accommodation and transport cost at 10–15%.
Moreover, according to her, visa-issuing period can come up to two weeks during high season, while upon the official regulation it cannot exceed three days. Furthermore, the most important negative factor was mentioned by Lyudmila Zolotukhina, General Director of Big travel 2000 - unstable situation in the Middle East that might affect the tourism perspectives in the region.
