In its preparation for the summer high season period, the Ministry of Tourism is promoting cheaper vacation deals for French tourists with reductions of about 10% on last year. July and August are characterized by a high demand for tourism to Israel. As a result, the tourism industry advertises high vacation prices for that season. Due to this, few French tourists buy vacation packages to Israel at the beginning of the summer season. Although prices gradually decline towards the end of August, by this time most French tourists have purchased vacation packages to other destinations.   In order to try and offer a reasonable price on vacation packages for the summer season, the Ministry of Tourism office in Paris approached the airlines and travel agents. In addition, the Ministry of Tourism contacted people in the hotel industries; attraction owners and wholesalers in order to get them to make their prices more attractive as of now. In light of the collaboration between all of the parties, tourists from France can now purchase cheaper vacation package, with reductions of about 10% on 2011, that include flight and accommodations, throughout Israel. The packages are available online on a dedicated page of the Israel Government Tourist Office in Paris.

In order to encourage French tourism to Israel, the Tourism Ministry will invest about 12 million NIS, in 2012, on marketing Israel to the French market. The marketing activities will be targeted to consumers interested in holidays that include religion, history and culture. France is the third largest source country for incoming tourism after the United States and Russia. In the years 2010 and 2011, 287,000 French tourists arrived in Israel. The vast majority of these tourists come from the Jewish community. The French tourist stays in Israel for an average of 11 nights, and spends about $1,173 during his visit.

Minister of Tourism, Stas Misezhnikov: “French tourism to Israel is one of the most important anchors in tourism to Israel and the Ministry of Tourism invests significant resources in this sector. Despite the stability of incoming tourism from France, the Ministry of Tourism does not rest on its laurels and continues to develop creative ways and attractive packages in order to meet the needs of the French tourist and reach the goal of about 310,000 tourists from France in the year 2012”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)