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Israel tourism
Two men play backgammon while smoking a shisha water pipe at a restaurant overlooking the canal and the Dubai Marina neighborhood in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
August 31, 2020, 11:01 pm
UAE and Israel deal opens doors to business
From coronavirus cooperation to oil sales: The key areas where the Jewish state and its new Arab partner share economic interests
By AFP
An elderly lady receives a meal delivery courtesy of Leket, the National Food Bank. (Courtesy, Leket)
August 26, 2020, 6:06 pm
National food bank faces rising demand for meals, plummeting food sources
Due to COVID-19, donations of unused prepared food from hotels, companies and army bases are down by more than half while demand for meals is up 50%
By Sue Surkes
View of the Leonardo hotel on the beachside of Haifa (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)
August 10, 2020, 6:22 pm
High Court comes out against Tshuva’s plan for four hotel towers on Haifa beach
Environment Ministry hails victory as judges appear to bury 1970s project with a demand for ‘a more modest’ version, that will not involve draining sea to create a bigger beach
By Sue Surkes
A tour group listens to a guide at the Armon Hanatziv Promenade in Jerusalem against the backdrop of the Old City in 2018 (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
July 21, 2020, 4:50 pm
Large Ferris wheel proposed for scenic Jerusalem promenade
Envisioned at half the height of London Eye, attraction is one of many being considered to upgrade ‘visitor experience’ at the Armon Hanatziv Promenade
By Sue Surkes
The facade of The Drisco Hotel, which reopened its doors to Israeli tourists on May 20, 2020 during the coronavirus (Courtesy The Drisco)
July 12, 2020, 6:20 am
Boutique hotels dare to reopen, welcoming Israeli guests… for now
With fewer rooms and smaller staff, several local hotels have taken the plunge and reopened, wearing masks and trying to social distance
By Jessica Steinberg
An airport staff cleaner in the empty arrivals hall at Ben Gurion International Airport on June 12, 2020 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
June 30, 2020, 8:04 pm
As virus cases mount, EU leaves Israel off list of countries allowed to visit
14 countries given okay to begin reciprocal tourism with European bloc; intelligence report warns reopening of Israeli skies in August won’t be possible if infection rate persists
By TOI staff
A Ryanair Boeing 737 airliner seen at Ramon Airport near Eilat, March 4, 2019. (Rafi Peled/ Israel Airport Authority)
June 18, 2020, 2:01 pm
EU okays landmark Israel ‘Open Skies’ aviation deal, despite annexation tensions
Jerusalem hails diplomatic achievement as Brussels ratifies pact with large majority; left-wingers’ bid for delay rejected; EU to watch political developments, ‘act accordingly’
By Raphael Ahren
An airport staff cleaner in the empty arrivals hall at Ben Gurion International Airport on June 12, 2020 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
June 15, 2020, 6:56 pm
As global travel and tourism take off again, Israel’s skies remain mostly closed
As Europe reopens, some Israeli travel agents are baffled government isn’t launching airport-based testing so they can be part of the resurgence
By Nathan Jeffay
Tourists and their guide at the Cardo in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City in July 2019, months before the coronavirus would shutter Israeli tourism (Hadas Parush/Flash 90)
June 2, 2020, 12:50 pm
With no tourists on the horizon, tour guides scramble to adapt to a new reality
The economy may be reopening, but with planes still grounded, and with much of the US and Europe stuck at home, an entire profession is being left behind
By Jessica Steinberg
Hotels on Tel Aviv's coastline are seen from Jaffa on March 26, 2020 (Gili Yaari /Flash90)
June 1, 2020, 6:04 pm
Government approves $85 million stimulus package for tourism sector
Finance, tourism ministries announce aid for ravaged hotels, to allow them to function without vital income from foreign tourists
By TOI staff
Grounded El Al planes at Ben Gurion Airport on April 6, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. (Moshe Shai/ Flash90)
May 31, 2020, 5:35 pm
Israel’s airports chief said pushing Health Ministry to reopen skies immediately
Warning of ‘irreversible damage’ of ongoing closure, head of the Israel Airports Authority insists work has been done at airfield to mitigate risks to travelers and staff
By TOI staff
Aerial view of the southern Israeli city of Eilat, October 21, 2015. (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)
May 28, 2020, 10:02 am
As Eilat reopens, businesses hope tourists will come… after Shavuot too
Virus dealt big blow to Red Sea resort, which depends on tourism for 45% of locals’ income; 1/4 of hotels reopen, with lower prices, but some fear fresh collapse after festival
By TOI staff
In this photo taken on Sunday, May 10, 2020, people walk among folded beach umbrellas dotted on an empty stretch of "Nissi beach" in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, a seaside resort that's popular with tourists from Europe and beyond. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
May 22, 2020, 8:19 pm
Israelis among first to be allowed in as Cyprus announces resumption of tourism
Island will begin phased resumption starting June 9 with commercial flights from a select number of countries with low COVID-19 infection rate in bid to save tourism sector
By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS
Passengers seen at Ben Gurion Airport, May 14, 2020. (Flash90)
May 22, 2020, 7:14 pm
NSC chief warns against lifting traveler quarantine requirements
Fearing virus surge, national security head Meir Ben-Shabbat says vigilance must be maintained in face of high infection rates overseas
By TOI staff
Tourists wearing face masks for fear of the coronavirus tours at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem on March 5, 2020. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
May 19, 2020, 10:46 pm
Israel, five countries mull formation of quarantine-free travel bloc
In bid to jumpstart tourism, Greece, Cyprus, the Seychelles, Georgia and Montenegro — all boasting low infection rates — discuss allowing travelers to skip two weeks of isolation
By TOI staff and JTA
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