The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMT) is looking at tapping potential markets like India from the South Asia Pacific region. This decision was taken because of the consequences faced due to global economic crisis in terms of low business from its major source markets like Europe, US, UK, North America, Russia and others. Orna Sagiv, Consul General, Israel along with Judah Samuel, General Manager, EL AL Israel Airlines recently hosted a conference at the Indian Merchant Chambers Building in Mumbai to introduce Eliezer Hod, Director Market Development, Israel Ministry of Tourism (Jerusalem, Israel) to the Indian travel trade players and travel media. While giving a presentation on destination Israel and various tourism options it has to offer, Hod said, “According to the statistics recorded, 2,800 Indian tourists visited Israel in the year 2008 without the Ministry investing in the Indian market. We realise India is one of the biggest potential markets for Israel tourism as it is not much affected by the economic crisis. It is more important to us than other markets like China because of the greater percentage of Christians and Muslims in the country.” |