This thread is to share and make known everything related with israeli tourism: news, destinations, questions, anecdotes...
Anyone can contribute ! :D

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Israel Ministry of Tourism
http://www.goisrael.com/tourism_eng

Israel Tourism Guide
http://tourism.index.co.il

;)

Life Magazine recent article

12 things to do in Tel Aviv

1. Hit the Beach

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Tel Aviv, Israel is currently one of the Mediterranean's hottest travel destinations.
Its gorgeous beaches, thriving nightlife, and hip, young residents ensure that a trip to Tel Aviv will be jam-packed with activity

2. Hit the Clubs

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Tel Aviv has come to be known as "the city that never stops" thanks to its thriving nightlife.
Popular local drinks include the locally-brewed Goldstar beer and the Annis-based drink known as Arak.

3. Catch a Basketball Game

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Tel Aviv is the home to the Maccabi Tel Aviv, one of the best basketball clubs outside the United States.

4. Take in the Architecture

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Tel Aviv has made a laudable effort to preserve its many Bauhaus buildings, particularly in the 'White City' district. In the 1930s, many German Jewish architects fled to Tel Aviv, which explains the wealth of buildings in this style.

5. Shop!

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Tel Aviv's busy HaCarmel Market is but one of the many places to find deals in the city.
Tel Aviv also features several large malls and shopping streets located around the center of the city.

6. Stroll the Promenade

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Most of Tel Aviv's gorgeous beaches offer an area built for ambling, either boardwalk or concrete

7. Catch the Opera

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Conductor and pianist Daniel Bareinboim conducts Milan's La Scala opera company during a free, open-air concert of Verdi's Requiem in Hayarkon Park. An opera town through and through, Israel's Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Israel Opera can also be found in Tel Aviv.

8. Participate in a Water Fight

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Make sure you arm yourself beforehand! Each year in July, Tel Aviv's Rabin Square is home to a massive water fight.

9. Dine Out

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Most of Tel Aviv's best bars and restaurants are found in the city's Jaffa section on the waterfront.

10. Take in Some Modern Music

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Mike's Place is an American-style bar on the waterfront and offers live music every night of the week.

11. Go Wild!

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Young Israelis dance at the annual Love Parade at the beach.
As one of the most secular locales in all of Israel, Tel Aviv offers people from all walks of life a chance to blow off steam.

12. Relax

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Israelis adrift at sea at the end of a summer's day.
With the Mediterranean to the city's west, stunning sunsets are always assured.



http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/30712/12-things-to-do-in-tel-aviv

Israel hotel occupancy among highest in the world in 2009

According to data collected from around the world-STR Global data , the highest average occupancy rate in August 2009 was recorded in Singapore, at 76.1%. Japan following with 75.7%, England had 72.7% occupancy, Canada had 72.1% and Israel had 72% occupancy.

Israel maintains a very high ranking even among major cities around the world. While August occupancy in Tel Aviv was 80%, Washington had 65.6% occupancy, Buenos Aires had 41.8%, Geneva 56.7%, Rome 64.8%, Shanghai 49.6%, Sydney 78.4% and Bangkok a mere 56%.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3787792,00.html

great thread. thank you.
:applause:

Hi javi, I've always been interested in the middle east and in particular Israel. I hope to travel there someday, but I'm a bit hesitant, in the sense that as a foreigner I would be treated poorly. I feel that Israel is a country that is in constant alarm of terrorist and that's what makes me uneasy. Please help me feel better hahahaha because I will go there someday.

One thing i can tell you in 100%, you will NOT treated poorly. you can get this kind of treatment in Russia, France, Cyprus but definitly not in Israel.
Israelis are very welcoming every tourist.
and it's safe here. Today terror is not Israeli problem, it's global problem. It's safe in here like it's safr in NYC or London or everywhere.

Hi javi, I've always been interested in the middle east and in particular Israel. I hope to travel there someday, but I'm a bit hesitant, in the sense that as a foreigner I would be treated poorly. I feel that Israel is a country that is in constant alarm of terrorist and that's what makes me uneasy. Please help me feel better hahahaha because I will go there someday.

creo hablas español asi que contestare a ti en español.
Muchas gentes piensa que Israel es inseguro y podras sufrir ataque pero cuando llegas a el pais entiendes que todo eso es mito, el pais es muy seguro adentro, conflicto es en fronteras y es muy improbable algo pase a ti como turista en Israel. Adentro de el pais te sentiras comodo, seguro y bienvenido, son millones de turistas los que visita el pais cada año y disfrutaron la experiencia Israel ;)

Travel: Tel Aviv, Israel
Published Date: 03 November 2009
By ruth walker

DRIVING through downtown Tel Aviv at dawn on a Saturday morning, the city is still buzzing with clubbers and bar-hoppers. We may be in the Holy Land as the sun begins to rise on the Sabbath, or Shabbat, but these days this most liberal of Israeli cities has more in common with New York than Nazareth.
It's no wonder the New York Times calls it the coolest city in the Middle East. Rio Ferdinand opted to come here rather than celebrate the Rooney nuptials in Portofino, while Madonna played a massive concert in September as part of her Sticky & SweetADVERTISEMENTtour. Some old ladies get a telegram from the Queen to celebrate their 100th birthday; Tel Aviv got a personal visit from Her Madge.

Locals call it the White City, or the city that never sleeps – not so much the Big Apple as the Big Apricot – and it turns out to be true, when two of our party manage to stay up until 8am, the last remaining customers stubbornly downing Dancing Camel beers in an otherwise deserted rock bar on Ben Yehuda Street.

However, it is less about Palma Nova-style hedonism than Barcelona-style cool, with a vibrant café culture, stunning shops and seriously good restaurants combined with boutique hotels, art galleries, museums and a refreshing slice of history courtesy of nearby Jaffa, in whose cobbled alleyways the early Christians performed their first miracles. And, yes, that is where the oranges come from (although not the cakes, sadly). Tel Aviv's various neighbourhoods are all easily negotiated on foot, so we kick off with a walking tour of the funky district of Neve Tzedek, with its designer shops, Bauhaus architecture and exclusive bars – 12 Rothschild is not to be missed (though we nearly do, considering its complete lack of signage or other indication that anything exists behind the crumbling exterior). But when Tel Aviv's beautiful people – of which there are many – come out to play, they hot-foot it to this sexy new drinking den.

This article was first published in the Scotland on Sunday on November 1, 2009

complete article:
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/features/Travel-Tel-Aviv-Israel-.5784672.jp

creo hablas español asi que contestare a ti en español.
Muchas gentes piensa que Israel es inseguro y podras sufrir ataque pero cuando llegas a el pais entiendes que todo eso es mito, el pais es muy seguro adentro, conflicto es en fronteras y es muy improbable algo pase a ti como turista en Israel. Adentro de el pais te sentiras comodo, seguro y bienvenido, son millones de turistas los que visita el pais cada año y disfrutaron la experiencia Israel ;)


Gracias por la respuesta Javi! Creo que tu has comentado en el foro Chileno?? Igual gracias, me imagino que Israel tendra mucho en comun con Latina America en el sentido amistoso pero tendre que olvidarme del los asuntos politcos de tu pais cuando viaje para alla jajaj Eres Espanol o Latino?

February 2010 sees incoming tourism record

A record rate of incoming tourism was noted this February with 222,000 travelers visiting Israel.

The Tourism Ministry said Tuesday that according to Central Bureau of Statistics data there has been a 46% rise in tourism compared with February 2009 (which had been affected by Operation Cast Lead and the economic crisis) and a 12% increase compared with February 2008.

Some 178,000 of visitors were tourists who stayed at least one night – a 28% rise compared with 2009. However, 44,000 of travelers arrived for day visits – three times more than the same month last year.

It should be noted that 13,200 tourists visited Israel as part of cruise packages, which did not include Israel in February 2008-2009.

The Tourism Ministry also stated that it is currently gearing up to welcome dozens of tourists and travelers slated to visit the Holy Land during Passover and Easter. As part of preparations, the ministry's control unit will conduct quality control tests for tourist services and accommodations.

The ministry will be checking maintenance level, handicapped access, signage and cleanliness, mainly in Jerusalem, Nazareth, Tiberias, Haifa, Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea and Eilat.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov warned of the expected shortage in hotel rooms and accommodations in the coming years in the face of ongoing growth in incoming tourism.

"The incoming tourism data of the last months are encouraging and prove that the Tourism Ministry's marketing tactics are bearing fruit," he said.

"Nevertheless, I call on entrepreneurs and hotel owners to employ the Tourism Ministry's support mechanisms in order to build new hotels and re-launch hotels which are no longer operational. A lack of hotel rooms in the future will hurt the ability to welcome tourists in Israel and will cause a loss of millions to the state."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3860031,00.html

Flights between Tel Aviv-Germany bumped up

Lufthansa announces its plans to increase seat capacity by 35% by adding one extra flight per week between Tel Aviv and Munich.

Air Berlin also announced that it would add seven additional flights to Tel Aviv from various cities around Germany.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3862259,00.html

Tel Aviv wants to host international gay pride parade

Muncipality files official request to host parade in 2012, announces increase in marketing budget for attracting gay tourism. As part of project aimed at boosting Israel's international image "gay bus" to tour European festivals

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The marketing budget for attracting gay tourists to Tel Aviv is to increase 10 times over, Eti Gargir, CEO of the Tel Aviv Tourist Association and Yaniv Weizman, manager of the tourism portfolio in the municipality said last week.

The marketing budget will climb from NIS 50,000 (about $13,300) in 2009 to roughly NIS 500,000 (approximately $130,300) in 2010. The Tel Aviv Municipality and the Israeli Hotel Association will particularly target the gay community in their efforts to attract tourism.

"The gay tourist likes urban vacations, he forms attachments with the community in the cities he visits, enjoys partying and usually returns to places he had a good time in," Weizman said. "This is established tourism which draws in young tourism and sets trends which other sectors of the population adopt."

The Tel Aviv Tourist Association is interested in hosting the international gay pride parade in 2012 in the city and has already filed a formal request with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. "The parade will boost economic and cultural prosperity and will attract thousands of tourists. The Barcelona parade for example was attended by a million and a half tourists."

The Tel Aviv Municipality started marketing itself as a gay travel destination and specifically as a "City Break" destination which is suitable for vacations of 3-5 days, mainly during weekends. As part of the gay and lesbian week to be celebrated this June the city will set up a "love village" in the Meir Park which is slated to attract many tourists.

Gay bus

The Tel Aviv Municipality together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the gay center are working on a plan to purchase a bus which will shuttle between gay festivals in Europe and promote Israel's international image.

According to the plan, the bus will transport Israeli dancers, play Israeli music and serve as a marketing platform for Israel and the branding of Tel Aviv as its national gay city. Festival goers will be offered Israeli food and will get a chance to watch Israeli films on board the vehicle.

Municipal officials are also considering making a documentary film inspired by the Australian hit " Priscilla Queen of the Desert" which will accompany the bus across Europe. The bus is slated to start its journey in Madrid and will visit Berlin, Warsaw, London and Rome.

Since the project is estimated to cost several hundred thousand dollars, the municipality has turned to the Foreign Ministry for funding support.

"We are examining the idea. The project has many advantages in that it can reach young and liberal audiences with which Israel usually has a severe image problem," a senior official in the Foreign Ministry said.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3853295,00.html

Tourism minister: Hotels in Israel are expensive and customers deserve better service

BERLIN – The program for rating Israel's hotels is underway. The Tourism Ministry has started preparing a call for proposals that will be presented to a number of companies abroad that specialize in hotel ratings, such as the Michelin and the AAA ratings.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov said Saturday that the hotel ratings will start this year and will be conducted over the course of two years for NIS 5 million (about $1.35 million).

"The ones doing the ratings will be foreign companies specializing in this. We have yet to decide if the rating will be voluntary or mandatory," Misezhnikov said. According to him, the situation as it exists today, in which there are no hotel ratings, is "absurd."

In parallel with the hotel ratings, which will be carried out in conjunction with the Israel Hotel Association, the Tourism Ministry allotted NIS 8 million (about $2.16 million) to improve human resources in the hotel industry.

"The hotels in Israel are very expensive, and I am definitely not happy about this," said Misezhnikov. "It should not be that a person pays good money in order to come to a hotel, and afterwards they charge him money to use the gym and internet. When such high prices are paid for staying in a hotel, one would expect to receive better service than at the neighbors or any other place."

The tourism minister responded to hoteliers' claims that single-day tourism does not contribute financially to the state of Israel, and said that a tourist visiting Israel for a day spends many times more than a tourist visiting for a week or more.

"Furthermore, a tourist visiting for one day is exposed to Israel and later becomes an ambassador of the country and comes for a week trip and brings other tourists," he said.

According to him, the Tourism Ministry must be responsible for marketing land for hotels and tourist attractions, and not other government ministries. "Only we know the areas of demand and know to give them proper importance," he said.

"We are now changing the priority areas, and adding Tel Aviv, Netanya, Haifa, the Dead Sea, and Eilat to them," added Misezhnikov. "Changing the priority zones means that entrepreneurs who want to invest in these destinations can receive an exemption from the internal tender for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to invest in Israel. Without this, no leading international hotel chain entrepreneur will invest in Israel."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3862394,00.html

Israel wins 1st place in Berlin tourism fair :)

Israeli stand named 'most outstanding' among 180 countries in world's biggest tourism fair. Minister Misezhnikov vows to invest tens of millions of shekels in implementing country's tourism potential

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3862438,00.html

Summer is coming..that mean French are here!

Summer is coming..that mean French are here!

You can have the French guys; I'll take the French girls! ;)

lol javer

French and the Russians.

Israel is also well suitable for backpack style tourism. There are plenty of youth hostels, independent hostels and field school hostels throughout the country. Usually it's never a real problem to find accommodation at a reasonable rate. However, in some cities, such as Tel Aviv, it is hard to find a decent place at a reasonable prize.

Wherever you can, stay in a field school! I stayed in Ein Gedi field school for 70NIS a night (< 15€ at the time), AC and fridge included and that's pretty much all you need. Other hostels that are definitely worth a stay are Massada Youth Hostel (spacious rooms, wonderful pool!!), Austrian Hospice Jerusalem (huge fortress-like building, very clean, in the middle of the old time, dorm bed for 12€) and Port Inn Haifa (clean, friendly staff, probably the best place to stay in Haifa).

Trains and buses are fairly cheap and offer student discounts.

French and the Russians.

also british, argentinians and americans :)

rheintram, what are these field schools? I've never heard anything like that before.

They are set up by the Society for the Protection of Nature. I don't really know all the tasks they fulfill, but they usually have dorm rooms or small bungalows, where you can sleep, and they over trips and lectures about nature. They probably do a lot of other things too.

nice thread....:cheers:

Hello Israel from Casablanca, i want visit your country in 2 years

ure always welcome

Hi guys, just got a question...

I wanna visit Israel in february or march-the tickets are very cheap at this time coming from cologne/Germany

Would getting a visa be a problem as a turkish passport holder-or should I wait until I get my German one in September...

an israeli guy(met him in thailand last month, there have been many israelis around, we've been suprised) told me that even germans are getting sent back from time to time at ben gurion, couldn't believe it..He said he did his military duty at the airport and he knows very well....

It would be a short visit, a week Tel Aviv where I would meet the guys from thailand, then a day, maybe two in haifa and jerusalem...plus 2 or 3 days in a Kibbuz where I could stay for free:) (He promissed me that, he is from NorthIsrael near Golan Heights and would know people who are living in a Kibbuz)

what do you think of my Route? And of course the Visa Issue?

Hi guys, just got a question...

I wanna visit Israel in february or march-the tickets are very cheap at this time coming from cologne/Germany

Would getting a visa be a problem as a turkish passport holder-or should I wait until I get my German one in September...

an israeli guy(met him in thailand last month, there have been many israelis around, we've been suprised) told me that even germans are getting sent back from time to time at ben gurion, couldn't believe it..He said he did his military duty at the airport and he knows very well....

It would be a short visit, a week Tel Aviv where I would meet the guys from thailand, then a day, maybe two in haifa and jerusalem...plus 2 or 3 days in a Kibbuz where I could stay for free:) (He promissed me that, he is from NorthIsrael near Golan Heights and would know people who are living in a Kibbuz)

what do you think of my Route? And of course the Visa Issue?

Better wait for your German passport; I went with my American one, and as a single non-jewish man travelling, EL AL gave me its full security treatment; but getting in and out of the country was NO hassle whatsoever, no questions at passport..(Flying to Eilat for a day was another story though..Strip searched, as they could not comprehend why I would fly there for a day trip!!!!..)..Despite all, it is a BEAUTIFUL country and people are incredibly NICE...

thank you very much for your answer-I think I will wait untill sept. or oct. for getting there...just can`t wait to see the country:(

Hi guys, just got a question...

I wanna visit Israel in february or march-the tickets are very cheap at this time coming from cologne/Germany

Would getting a visa be a problem as a turkish passport holder-or should I wait until I get my German one in September...

an israeli guy(met him in thailand last month, there have been many israelis around, we've been suprised) told me that even germans are getting sent back from time to time at ben gurion, couldn't believe it..He said he did his military duty at the airport and he knows very well....

It would be a short visit, a week Tel Aviv where I would meet the guys from thailand, then a day, maybe two in haifa and jerusalem...plus 2 or 3 days in a Kibbuz where I could stay for free:) (He promissed me that, he is from NorthIsrael near Golan Heights and would know people who are living in a Kibbuz)

what do you think of my Route? And of course the Visa Issue?

1. Do not listen to nonsense.

2. You may want to check if the Turkish passport holders need a visa to Israel. You may or may not need a visa. I don't think you need a visa but it has to be verified.

3. If you are questioned by the Israeli border guards be calm and answer everything honestly. They are well trained. In fact, they are probably the best trained border agents in the world. If they don't think you are honest then you have a problem. If they think you are honest and you have not been involved in anything political or anti-Israel there is nothing to be concerned about. Israel has to be vigilant. After all it has been subjected to many terrorist attacks.

4. Israel is full of tourists at all times.

"The ministry figures also showed record-breaking numbers for June, with 259,000 tourists visiting in that month"

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=181249

5. The Israelis are very direct. Some cultures associate it with being rude. Depending what your interests are this may help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Israel

Thank you for your help russel, don`t have any bad intensions at all - except heavy drinking:) I think I`ll be able to do my trip in sept. or oct.

I`ll share my pics in this forum then...

Thank you for your help russel, don`t have any bad intensions at all - except heavy drinking:) I think I`ll be able to do my trip in sept. or oct.

I`ll share my pics in this forum then...

I've heard that both Air Berlin and Germanwings have very good deals now.

Come to visit TLV; as a foreigner now living in the city, I can assure that it´s well worth the visit!

Gute reise!

Vielen Dank Gadol... I am really looking forward to see TLV

Germanwings has very good deals from Cologne, last week I would be able to buy round trip tickets for 160 Euros in January or February

let's bump this one up? :)

:okay:

I didn't know Jews could be gay. Isn't that against your religion?

So what you're saying is that there can't be any Muslim or Christian gays either... For it's against both religions too.

Hertz
Budget
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Eldan - Ben Gurion Car Rental (http://www.eldan.co.il/en/branch_info.aspx?br=17)
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