Shana Tovah 5778 Happy New Year to our readers
www.jewishtimesasia.org
September 2017 • Volume 12 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5777 – 5778
ISRAEL EAGER TO TAP MORE INDIAN TOURISTS FOR PLEASURE AND BUSINESS By Staff Writer and Agencies
“We have been very focused on tourism promotions in India and easing the visa process. This year, in the first seven months, we have already hosted 34,000 Indian tourists. This is expected to go up to 55,000 by the end of this year,” the Israeli Ministry of Tourism’s India director Hassan Madah said, according to the Indian online news site livemint. He said that currently there are three to four direct flights from Mumbai to Tel Aviv and numerous connecting flights from West Asia. There is talk of introducing direct Air India flights connecting New Delhi with Israel in a few months, he said, adding that if this happens, tourist traffic is likely to surge from India and this year’s number may reach nearly 90,000.
Indian tourists on the Via Dolorosa in the Old City of Jerusalem
Asia, Air India has suspended plans to launch flights between Tel Aviv and New Delhi after it failed to receive permission to fly over certain Arab and Muslim countries to reduce the flying time. EL AL Israel Airlines still offers the only direct flight. A few global airlines are waiting for the Air India flights to be launched, and plan to introduce their fleets on this direct route. “When this happens, we will see a surge in tourist arrivals from India. We have also been engaging with the tourism industry in India for the past few years and are focused on many promotional activities. Due to this, we have set a target of reaching one lakh [100,000] tourists from India by the end of 2018,” he said.
AFP/Money Sharma
However, as reported in the June 2017 issue of Jewish Times
Serge Attal/FLASH90
With much high-level political dialogue and the recent official visits between India’s prime minister Narendra Modi, who made a historic trip to Israel in July, and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who visited India last November, it is no surprise that both countries are eagerly pursuing strong tourism policies.
President Reuven Rivlin, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hug each other after a joint media briefing in New Delhi in November 2016
Hassan Madah, India director, Israel Ministry of Tourism
Regarding Israel’s tourism promotions in India, Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) is spending US$5-6 million in India this year, he said, adding that going forward, as the tourist traffic grows, the budget is likely to grow. Israel, which has positioned itself as an affordable premium destination, is targeting travellers mainly for pilgrimages, leisure and meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE), including weddings. “We are mainly focusing on pilgrimages, leisure and MICE, as they are huge segments in India. However, we also have scope for the young-at-heart adventurer, honeymoons and for medical purposes,” he said. In India, IMOT is targeting peo-
ple from metro cities – mostly people aged over 25 who are well-travelled. “Initially, we want to focus on the big and metro cities. Gradually, we will expand our promotions to tiertwo and tier-three cities,” he added. Madah said that initially in Asia, India was the numberone source market for Israel. However, China has now taken over the position. “We believe that after the connectivity improves, India will again become the numberone source market for us among the Asian countries,” he said. Globally, the US and Europe, including Russia, are Israel’s top source markets.
from Jewish Times Asia
IN THIS ISSUE Jewish New Year Greetings 2-8 Regional News Vietnam and Israel sign MOU on science and technology 9-14
Business News Japanese firm acquires Israeli company NeuroDern
15-18
Art • Culture • Music Imperial Circus of China to tour Israel
19-21
Festivals Rosh Hashanah / Yom Kippur 22-23
Jewish communities in Asia Candle-lighting and the month’s Parshas
27