Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/458344
B M & T ••• November/December 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 36 The New Israeli Shekel (NIS) or shekel is the currency. It is rec- ommended for U.S. visitors to carry a small amount of U.S. dollars since certain tourist sites accept it as legal tender. The electricity is 220 volts 50 HZ. Languages spoken include Hebrew, Arabic and English. The holy day of Shabbat starts on Friday afternoon and ends on Saturday evening. During Shabbat all public offices are closed, as well as most private businesses, public transportation and restau- rants. In Tel Aviv and other secular areas of Israel, many restaurants and cafes remain open. to reach the evangelical market and tour operators," said Gutin. Landau admitted that the number of visitors could be ham- pered by the long flights and the cost. "We understand that both of those could be reasons for people not to travel to Israel," he explained. Landau said he is working vigorously to try to get more flights into Israel, which would automatically "bring prices down." In 2013, the Ministry of Tourism undertook a multi-million dollar advertising campaign based upon the concept that Israel is 'Beyond Belief.' Print ads appeared in leading travel publications and newspa- pers in the New York Tri-State area. There was also a web-based destination campaign that appeared on travelzoo.com. In spite of the pronouncements that Israel is unsafe and in fact, that the country is dangerous, the campaign paid off. Landau admitted that one of the obstacles for visitors trav- eling to Israel was security. "There is much security on people who come to Israel and those who leave," said Landau. "We are concerned about the people who come in and the people who leave." Landau added that security in Israel is no different than in any other country. The prevailing concern, he says, is "safety". "Despite regional turmoil and the ongoing worldwide eco- nomic crisis, travelers remained steadfast in their commitment to travel to Israel," said Gutin. "It confirms what the Ministry has always believed – that visiting Israel is seen by many as a 'must.' And there is a growing number of North Americans eager to explore our historic and holy sites, our resorts, our bur- geoning culinary scene and our breathtaking natural land- scapes." Gutin added that is was an "unheard of phenomenon" that any country's largest and highest-spending source of tourism comes from 6,000+ miles away. "Which underscores the importance of the work we do in North America," he said. The month of December 2013 also set a new record high, with the arrival of 24% more tourists (visitors who stayed more than one night) than in 2012. Cruise travel to Israel also increased in 2013 with the arrival of a record 257,000 cruise visitors. In 2013, the sources of tourism included religious tourism and pilgrimage, vacation travel, culinary, spa and adventure tourism, Jerusalem (with its mix of historic and holy sites) and Tel Aviv (considered one of the world's 'hottest' destinations). Gutin said he hopes to welcome "repeat visitors along with a new wave of Christian travelers to the Holy Land this year to experience first hand where the Scriptures come to life. QUICK FACTS: Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv is the best hub to enter the country. There are nonstop flights from New York (JFK) and Newark (EWR). Major airlines that fly to Israel from the U.S. are Delta Airlines, US Airways, United Airlines and El Al Israel Airlines. The climate in the summer (April-October) is warm and dry, while winters (November-March) are mild with drier, cooler tem- peratures. icy instantly online 24/7 with R.V. Nuccio and Associates' con- venient website – saving significant time and money. 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