Israel Tourism
May 15, 2008
FROM DAN TO EILAT IN 22 LANGUAGES
The Ministry of Tourism is working to open new training courses for foreign-language tour guides in light of the anticipated increase in incoming tourists and the interest shown in Israel as a tourist destination by new countries
Russian, French, Italian, Hungarian, Chinese, German and Korean tourists, among others, are expected to visit Israel within the next few years, following the intensive marketing campaigns the Ministry of Tourism has conducted overseas and in line with its objective to bring 5 million tourists to Israel during 2012. In addition to the foreign-language courses for tour guides are planned, new charter routes are expected to open and there is interest from new markets positioning Israel as a tourist destination.
About 2,000 tour guides currently operate in Israel in 22 different languages, including among others French, Italian, Russian, Hungarian and German. 500 more tour guides are now attending 14 courses around the country.
These courses include 36 Korean-speaking guides who are currently studying material suitable for the specific needs of the Korean tourist. At the end of this course, which ends next year, the guides will be licensed to guide Korean groups only. Suitable students will then be able to complete their studies and become fully qualified tour guides. The Ministry is looking to recruit German, Chinese, Russian, Japanese speakers, as well as those from Scandinavian countries, to join similar courses.
In addition to these courses and in order to meet the demand for professional guiding, the Ministry is running courses on the history of ancient Jerusalem, desert tourism, tourists with special needs, religions, extreme tourism, culinary-oriented tourism and more. This will further increase the level of professionalism and offer additional specialist knowledge for Israeli tour guides who are renowned internationally for the depth and breadth of their knowledge of Israel, history, geology, Bible etc. Within the next month, some 40 tour guides will begin attending a course in Eilat specializing in desert tourism.
Director General of the Ministry of Tourism Shaul Tzemach: "The tour guides accompany the tourists throughout their visit in Israel and therefore they are committed to be professional, to know the country, its sites, its history and heritage, and to do it in a pleasant way. All these issues are being taught in the courses the Tourism Ministry runs for tour guides. The increase in the number of incoming tourists demands the maintenance of a high-level tourist product, which is also measured in the services offered in accordance with the tourist's different needs."
Authorized tour guides are required to graduate from a Ministry of Tourism course, which includes a written and oral exam and must renew their license every two years after attending a one day refresher course run by the Ministry of Tourism. Tour guides should be Israeli citizens, at least 21 years old and have no criminal record.
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May 12, 2008
THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM IS WORKING TOWARDS OPENING BEN GURION AIRPORT TO NIGHT TIME FLIGHTS
Ministry of Tourism Director-General Shaul Tzemach: "Increasing the operational hours at Ben Gurion airport, together with the use of new and quieter airplanes, will increase incoming tourist traffic, inject tens of millions of dollars into the economy and reduce the cost of flights."
The Ministry of Tourism continues in its preparations for the anticipated increase in incoming tourist traffic over the next few years and is working towards increasing the number of hours Ben Gurion airport is operational with the approval of night time landings and take-offs.
The number of incoming tourists continues to rise: beginning in 2007, when 2.3 million tourists visited Israel (an increase of 25% over 2006) through the first quarter of 2008 (648,000 tourists and an increase of 44% over the same period last year), and up to and including the Easter season with 70,000 tourist arrivals and Passover with an additional 80,000 incoming tourists.
The Ministry of Tourism is prepared for a significant 20% increase in the coming months (over the same period last year). In the summer months, more than half a million tourists are expected to arrive, with a further 550,000 expected to visit during October-November, coinciding with the Jewish festivals.
Director General of the Ministry of Tourism Shaul Tzemach, who has recently been in discussion with aviation industry leaders and representatives of foreign airlines as part of the Ministry's preparations for the year 2009, estimates that there is a significant demand from airlines to increase seat capacity into Israel – an opportunity that should be exploited, also in light of the fact that European airports do not operate in the night time, leaving these airplanes available for operation.
"Increasing the number of hours that Ben Gurion airport operates is expected to generate a 20% spike in the numbers of incoming tourists. Their contribution to the Israeli economy is valued at tens of millions of dollars. This extra activity will also lead to a reduction in the cost of flights. Airlines wishing to operate night flights will have to commit to using quieter aircraft, which have higher levels of safety, so that they will not adversely affect the quality of life of residents living in the proximity of the airport," added Tzemach.
The Ministry of Tourism will work in cooperation with the relevant authorities to bring this matter to the government in the near future.
(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism and the GPO)
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