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Feb. 15, 2008
Record-breaking year
IGTO is expecting even more Canadians in 2008.
KYLE BERGER
More Canadians touched down at the Ben Gurion Airport tarmac in Tel Aviv in 2007 than in any previous year.
Approximately 60,000 Canadians – a 20 per cent increase over 2006 – visited Israel last year, representing more than the previous tourism high in 2000, before the last intifada broke out. The same is true for American and Russian tourist, who have been happily escaping their cold winters for the warm beaches of Israel.
According to Oded Grofman, consul director for Canada of the Israel Government Tourist Office (IGTO), 2008 is expected to welcome even more Canadians to Israel.
"The most important reason for the increase is that people feel it is safe," Grofman said, while visiting Vancouver in January. "El Al and Air Canada have been increasing their flights and there are more travel agents selling Israel. It shows that they feel Israel is a good place to do business and that there will be demand."
Grofman said he expects the number of Canadian visitors to Israel in 2008 to be somewhere between 65,000 and 70,000. This is due to the yearlong celebrations for Israel's 60th anniversary. Starting on Yom Ha'atzmaut, there will be a full year of parties and special events throughout the country.
"I think the most important thing people can do to celebrate is to come and be with us for this birthday party," Grofman said, while noting that many hotels have undergone renovations or added suites to accommodate the visitors. "We expect a lot of Jewish organizations are going to have their meetings in Israel this year."
He continued, "I believe that when you see the streets of Israel filled with tourists it makes the people there very proud. It helps a lot to have people investing in our economy – from the taxi driver to the guy who owns the restaurant. But we all know the impact it has when people return to their home towns and become ambassadors for Israel. It is so different to actually visit Israel rather than just read about it."
Despite recent confrontational and political events, Grofman noted, Israelis feel confident about their accomplishments.
"To be 60 is still very young, but Israelis know that they have achieved so much in that time," he said. "Israel can offer so much to Jewish and non-Jewish people and I think there is a lot of pride for Israelis to be 60 in this environment."
Grofman's visit to the West Coast included stops in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, where he met with travel agents and Jewish community leaders to discuss ways the IGTO can assist in the promotion of Israel this year.
Grofman, along with his wife and two children, will be based out IGTO's Toronto office for the next several years.
Information on Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations can be found online at www.goisrael.ca.
Kyle Berger is a Vancouver freelance writer.
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