Visa requirements for Russian tourists eliminated
Excitement already sensed by Russian tourism wholesalers ahead of effective date. Growth of135% in number of Russian tourists to Israel registered so far this year. Ministry of Tourism: Number of Russian tourists entering Israel can be doubled or tripled in coming years
The Knesset’s Internal Affairs Committee on Sunday approved the elimination of visa requirements for Russian citizens visiting Israel. The ruling will take effect September 20.
The initiative was led by former Tourism Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch and unanimously voted in a special ministerial committee established by the government.
Aharonovitch’s proposal elicited the objection of various parties who were concerned that canceling the visas would lead to increased trespassing attempts by criminal groups into Israel, including prostitution and illegal aliens.
Representatives from the Ministry of Tourism reported during the Knesset committee's Sunday meeting that excitement and anticipation could already be sensed over the past few months among the largest tourism wholesalers in Russia, whose interest has been sparked due to the signing of the new agreement.
Second largest source of tourism into Israel
Estimates say that the number of Russian tourists entering Israel in the coming years coulc be doubled or even tripled.
Some 193,000 Russian tourists visited Israel in 2007 – a 163% increase compared to 2006. Between January and May 2008, some 128,000 tourists entered Israel from Russia – a 135% increase compared to the corresponding period last year. With such a growth pace, the number of Russian tourists may reach 300,000 by late 2008.
The Ministry of Tourism reported that since 2007, Russia has become the second largest source of tourism into Israel and is on the list of countries with the highest potential for tourism growth into the Holy Land. Many of the Russian tourists arrive on a one-day trip to Israel, and the ministry foresees them coming back for longer periods with visa regulation now void.
The pressure is now on Israel to compete against its neighboring countries also devoid of visa requirements, and to focus on quality from now on, instead of the ease of arrival to the destination.
