LUMAGDA ang Pilipinas at Israel sa isang joint declaration upang isulong ang tourism industry sa pagitan ng dalawang bansa.
Si Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco ay nakipagpulong kay Israel Minister of Tourism Haim Katz sa kaagahan ng buwan.
“We are excited to see such strong interest from Filipino travelers to Israel… With the upcoming Jubilee Year, we anticipate even more Filipinos will be eager to experience the holy land and the rich history, culture, and hospitality Israel offers,” sabi ni Katz.
“We hope to see direct flights between Israel and the Philippines very soon, this will boost tourism and people-to-people exchange,” dagdag pa niya.
Layon ng pagbisita ni Katz sa bansa na palawakin ang kanilang presensiya sa Philippine Tourism Market, partikular sa nature travel, at palakasin ang kanilang bansa bilang pangunahing destinasyon para sa wine enthusiasts.
Makikipagpulong din ang minister sa Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), religious leaders sa Manila, at magho-host ng talakayan sa presidente ng Philippine Airlines (PAL) para sa posibilidad ng direct flights sa pagitan ng Israel at ng Pilipinas..
“I hope that this will encourage tourism exchanges between our nations, particularly with the visa-free travel for Filipinos to Israel and vice versa. I invite Filipinos to experience Israel not just as the Holy Land but to enjoy culinary and experience the Land of Innovation and Start-Up Nation,” wika ni Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss.