July 2011
July 28, 2011
THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM WILL ALLOCATE 500,000 NIS
TO TRAIN FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPEAKERS AS PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDES
Due to a shortage of hundreds of tour guides with foreign language skills, the Ministry of Tourism will allocate 500,000 NIS toward professional development of certified tour guides. Over the last two years, there has been a significant increase in tourism to Israel from “classic” countries such as the United States and central Europe, as well as from other destinations such as Scandinavia, Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, and Asian countries. This increase, which is a result of intensive marketing activities – including expanded budgets and targeted marketing – has caused a shortage in the number of tour guides that can effectively lead groups in their native languages.
As part of the efforts to improve the tourism services, and to cater for the anticipated increase in tourism within the coming years, the Ministry of Tourism last year allocated 360,000NIS for a scholarship for foreign-language speaking students studying in tour guide courses. During September-November 2010, 30 scholarships (12,000 NIS each) were handed out to students who met the requirements which include a language test. The scholarship is granted at the start of the course and upon completion. The Ministry is now allocating an additional 500,000 NIS toward additional scholarships.
Minister of Tourism Stas Miseznikov: “Tour guides lead tourists from arrival to departure; they are among the most important factors in the incoming tourism industry, with an effect on the tourist’s overall experience, the decision to return to Israel, and becoming a “Tourism Ambassador.” The Ministry of Tourism is preparing for the increase in demand, expecting five million tourists in 2015. We are preparing ourselves today in order to give the highest level of service while matching the tourists’ every need.”
Among those currently studying on scholarship, there are 10 Spanish speakers, 7 Portuguese speakers, 6 German speakers, 4 Italian speakers and one Czech speaker. There remains a shortage in eastern and central European language speakers, with German at the top of the list, followed by Scandinavian languages and languages from the Far East. The two-and-a-half year tour guide course is the professional preparatory base to receive a license. Following the course, students must pass a written and oral exam. Last year, 700 students took the exam, 400 of which passed and received a license.
(Courtesy of the Foreign Press Adviser to the Ministry of Tourism)
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July 18, 2011
TRAVEL + LEISURE MAGAZINE RATES JERUSALEM AND TEL AVIV IN WORLD’S BEST CITIES
The prestigious New York-based magazine, Travel + Leisure, recently published its best cities list, placing Jerusalem in second place, followed by Tel Aviv in the Middle East and Africa category. Cape Town was rated first on the list, with Cairo and Dubai fourth and fifth, respectively. The results of the survey which is compiled according to a reader survey, can be viewed here:
http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2011/cities/africa-middle-east-cities/252
This is the 16th year in a row that the annual survey has rated hotels, airlines, cities, spas, islands and more. The city category is divided into six regions, including Africa and the Middle East, Europe, Asia and more. Readers are asked to rate cities according to various criteria including sites, culture and art, food and restaurants, shopping, travel costs and more.
The magazine is considered one of the leading international tourism magazines, especially among English speaking countries. Based in New York, the magazine is published monthly, reaching over a million readers worldwide considered to be avid travelers who use the information from the magazine to plan future trips.
Minister of Tourism Stas Miseznikov, stated that over the last two years the Ministry has reinforced its marketing activities throughout the world, focusing on creating a new image for Israel – the Holy Land with Jerusalem at its center, with a separate focus on the cities of Eilat and Tel Aviv. This new marketing initiative, which is focused on several different target groups, has significantly increased inbound tourism to Israel. As a result, 2010 was a record year in tourism to Israel, seeing an increase in both demand and the exposure of Israel’s main tourist attractions.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Tourism, during the first half of 2010, 76% of tourists in Israel went to Jerusalem, visiting the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Via Dolorosa, Yad Vashem and Mt. of Olives. In addition, one third of visitors in 2010 stayed overnight at hotels in the city, totaling 3.3 million bed nights – a 29% increase compared to 2009.
Tel Aviv, which placed third in the survey, attracts approximately 54% of tourists in Israel, visiting the “White City,” which UNESCO proclaimed in 2003 a World Heritage Site. 2.3 million bed nights were recorded throughout 2010, approximately 23% of all bed nights – a 21% increase compared to 2009.
During the first half of 2011, 1.6 million tourists visited the country, similar to the same time last year which is considered a record year for inbound tourism. June also marked a new record, with 262,000 visitors to the country. The Ministry of Tourism is continuing with both intensive and targeted marketing campaigns in order to maintain tourism traffic and increase the demand for visits to Israel.
(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism)
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July 11, 2011
1.6 MILLION VISITORS ARRIVED IN ISRAEL DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 2011, SIMILAR TO THE FIGURES FOR 2010, ISRAEL’S RECORD YEAR FOR TOURISM
TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV: “INCOMING TOURISM TO ISRAEL REGISTERED A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2011. IN THE SHADOW OF THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL CRISES, THE TOURISM INDUSTRY HAS SUCCEEDED IN MAINTAINING INCOMING TOURISM AND EVEN INCREASING IT; THE MINISTRY WILL CONTINUE ITS MARKETING CAMPAIGNS INTERNATIONALLY THROUGH 2011 WITH A NIS 100 MILLION BUDGET.”
Records in tourism: According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 262,000 visitors entered Israel in June 2011 (tourists and day visitors) – a record for the month of June with 1% more than June 2010 and 25% more than June 2009. An all-time record-high was also recorded in June for incoming tourists (who stayed in Israel for more than one night) – 228,300 (about 87% of all visitors) and an increase of 7% over June 2010 and 4% over June 2008.
In the first half of 2011, 1.6 million visitors arrived in Israel, similar to the 1.63 million of the same period last year, which was Israel’s record-breaking year for incoming tourism. 1.4 million were tourists, 4% more than the same period last year. 213,000 were day visitors, 27% less than the same period last year. Of these visitors, 96,000 were cruise visitors, about double the number of the previous year. 40,900 tourists arrived on direct flights to Eilat for the purpose of vacationing – an impressive 38% increase on the first half of 2010.
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov: “Incoming tourism to Israel registered a significant achievement in the first half of 2011. In the shadow of the local and regional crises which had a direct effect on the region’s image, the tourism industry has succeeded in maintaining incoming tourism and even increasing it. The intensive investment around the world, both in increased marketing budgets and public advocacy activities by Tourism Ministry representatives has succeeded in challenging the potential tourist to visit Israel and to present Israel as a safe, quality and attractive destination.” The minister noted that, in the last half of 2011, the ministry will continue its focused marketing activities internationally, supported by a NIS 100 million budget.
(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism)
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July 8, 2011
THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM IS PREPARING TO RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN ISRAEL OVER THE WEEKEND. THE MINISTRY’S OFFICE AT BEN-GURION AIRPORT WILL GREET TOURISTS WITH FLOWERS AND TOURISM INFORMATION
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM STAS MISEZNIKOV: “WE NEED TO MAINTAIN A SENSE OF NORMALITY AT THE AIRPORT, SENDING OUT A MESSAGE TO THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS THAT ISRAEL IS A SAFE COUNTRY AND AN ATTRACTIVE TOURISM DESTINATION. SECURITY FORCES, WHO WILL DEAL WITH THE PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVISTS WITH UTMOST PROFESSIONALISM AND RESPECT, WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE AIRPORT ACTIVITIES.”
The Ministry of Tourism is preparing to receive thousands of tourists who will be arriving in Israel over the weekend. Additional staff, with foreign language skills, has already been sent to reinforce the Ministry’s office at the airport, which operates seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Tourists will be greeted by the Ministry’s staff who will hand out flowers and tourism information and who will provide general assistance according to individual needs.
Minister of Tourism Stas Miseznikov said this morning that Ben-Gurion Airport is the entrance and exit gate to Israel; the greeting point for tourists plays a major role in shaping the general experience and feeling during the visit to Israel. Over the last two years, the Ministry of Tourism has dealt with various crises – economic and political – and continues to work hard to attract tourists to Israel. “It’s important to maintain a sense of normality at Ben-Gurion Airport. The Ministry of Tourism will make sure to receive tourists respectfully, sending out the message that Israel is a safe country and an attractive tourism destination. The specific dealings with the pro-Palestinian activists and the responsibility of the various security forces, should not affect the airport’s activities.
From the beginning of the year, over 1.5 million tourists have visited Israel – similar to the same period last year, which was a record year for tourism to Israel. The tourism industry generates billions of shekels a year, creates thousands of jobs, encourages economic development and significantly improves Israel’s image abroad.
Minister Miseznikov will visit Ben-Gurion Airport on Friday in order to examine the activities of the Ministry’s employees and welcome tourists.
(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism)
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