The second Israel Tourism Roadshow designed to further improve tourism relationship of the country and Israel was held at the Marco Polo Davao Hotel on Thursday.
“We are really happy to have this event here in Davao as in the recent visit of President Rodrigo Duterte, one of the major topics was how to promote tourism relations of both our countries,” said Rafael Harpaz, Ambassador of Israel in his speech.
Harpaz added that Filipinos do not need visa to go to Israel resulting in increase of Filipino tourists in Israel.
In 2015, there were only 11,300 tourists, but in 2016, the number grew to 14,600 arrivals. In 2017, this further increased to 23, 500 and from January to October 2018, the number has already reached 20,700 tourists.
“We need to connect the tourism industry of Israel with the tourism industry of the Philippines, as it will be beneficial to both countries,” said Hassan Madah, Israel director of tourism for the Philippines and India during an interview.
Madah said that the Israeli delegation to the Philippines is composed of 24 companies.
“As tourism ministry, we gave them the platform, so the business sectors of both sides will meet and discuss the various tour packages they can offer to their clients. It can be the Holy Land package, leisure packages and other packages,” he said.
He said that they have chosen Davao City as the venue of the roadshow because it is one of the biggest cities in the country and secondly direct flights has started between Davao and Hong Kong which will boost tourism because this flight can connect to the flight to Tel Aviv.
“This way it will be easier to go to the Holy Land,” he said.
