Tourism ministry opens office at Allenby crossing

A tourism bureau opened at the strategic crossing connecting Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, the Tourism Ministry announced Sunday. The aim of the office is to facilitate the passage of tourists through the strict border security inspections.

The crossing, located near the city of Jericho, serves over one hundred thousand tourists a year, some of whom travel through Jordan to the PA, and many others who travel to Israel via the airport in Amman.

Over 140,000 tourists used the border crossing in 2011, more than in 2009 but less than 2010. The ministry attributed the decline from 2010 to the geopolitical changes in the region.

“From surveys held last year by the Ministry of Tourism, it would appear that the security checks which the tourist undergoes while entering or exiting Israel are not viewed in a positive light by tourists,” read a press release by the ministry.

The ministry’s director general, Noaz Bar Nir, said the new bureau would work to ease the experience. “The tourist’s first impression on entering Israel and their last experience on exiting the country constitute one of the most important encounters with service providers in Israel. Fast, courteous and welcoming service must exist, so that the visiting tourists will become ambassadors of goodwill and encourage others to come visit Israel.”