DOT TARGETS MORE ISRAEL ARRIVALS

Feature Preview 2/10/2017 DOT - Office of Media Affairs and Advocacy

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL -- With the steady increase of visitors from year to year and for chalking up the
highest growth rate last year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is pursuing Israel as a source market
that is expected to produce more travellers this year and onwards.

Tourism Chief Wanda Corazon Teo disclosed that this rosy performance has inspired the DOT to
sustain its presence at the 23rd International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM) held from February
7 to 9 at the TLV Convention Center in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.

The IMTM is the largest annual professional tourism fair of its kind in the Eastern Mediterranean
attended by around 25,000 tourism and travel executives. It serves to promote inbound, domestic and
outbound tourism, as well as to strengthen cooperation among tourism bodies in Israel and elsewhere
in the world.
According to DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr, head of the Philippine Tourism delegation, “Last
year, we received 16,725 arrivals from Israel, up by 42.27%, the highest growth rate among the
markets. We remain optimistic of hitting 20,000 to 22,000 arrivals for 2017 considering that among
Israel travelers, the Philippines is gaining preference as an emerging tourism destination.”

Meanwhile, Bengzon also took part in a productive bilateral meeting between the Philippine
delegation and Israel Tourism Minister Yariv Levin where they discussed the possibility of hiring Filipinos
in luxury hotels in Israel and the providing on-the-job trainings for Filipino students in this Middle East
country.
"We are now open to hiring Filipinos to work in the hotel industry, especially the high-end hotels in
Israel. An initial 500-700 Filipinos is being targeted. We are also exploring to allow on-the-job trainings
in these hotels," Minister Levin disclosed.

“The bilateral agreement is based on mutual interests among travelers of both the Philippines and
Israel. Many Filipinos are pilgrims to the Holy Land and then visit Israel’s museums, historical landmarks
and ecotourism sites. On the other hand, Israelis are drawn to our country mainly for vacation and
leisure. At an average of 20 nights per trip, their favorite places include Manila, Cebu, Boracay, Palawan,
Banaue and Puerto Galera. Diving, shopping, interesting culture and the warmth of our people are what
they like most,” Secretary Teo revealed.

While in Manila, Levin met with officers of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to address the issue of direct
flights to Manila from his country.

"We will immediately coordinate with all stakeholders concerned to fast track the implementation of
hiring Filipinos in Israel hotels,” Bengzon stressed.

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial mentioned that this prospect of hiring Filipinos will be
coordinated with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as well as with the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) for the on-the-job trainees.

Tourism is one of Israel’s major sources of income with more than 10 million tourist arrivals in 2015,
mostly from North America and Europe. A total of 11,156 Filipinos visited the country in 2015.

The Filipino worker, globally pursued in different sectors, will serve to enhance Israel’s hospitality
industry that operates thousands of hotels, restaurants and wineries.

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