With the official start of tourist season in Israel, the Tel Aviv Tourism Association has announced new programs it hopes will bring new visitors to the bustling beachfront city, as well as enhance their experiences.
Last year 2 million tourists came to Tel Aviv; officials are aiming to attract an additional 400,000 visitors in 2010.
According to CEO Etty Gargir, the goal “is to strengthen the positive image of Tel Aviv worldwide as a leading tourism site.”
At a May 2 press conference, the association announced it is offering 36 “experience/adventure” tours, matched to varing ages and lifestyles. All are free, and presented in English.
The tours have proven to be a success, with 33 percent more participants last year compared to 2007. Among the new tours this year are excursions for singles, fans of Arik Einstein songs and food connoisseurs.
Mobile tourism guides will drive along the beach boardwalk on Segways. Visitors also can use iPhone applications to discover museums, hotels, restaurants, cafés and bars, in addition to an extensive database of information at Visit-tlv.com.
The association is expecting a hike in tourism due to the recent introduction of an “open skies” policy, which eased restrictions on foreign airlines. The lack of such an agreement is thought to have hindered European travel to Israel, especially from Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
The open skies agreement, signed in 2009, could see Lufthansa flights from Germany increasing from 18 to 30 a week; its subsidiaries Swiss Air and Austrian Airlines also are expected to increase their frequency of flights to Israel. — jpost.com