PH Ambassador, Israel Tourism Minister Discuss Direct Flights, High-Level Visits

Philippine Ambassador Pedro R. Laylo, Jr. meets Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz on 07 September 2023, at the Kfar Maccabiah Hotel in Ramat Gan

TEL AVIV 18 September 2023 — Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo, Jr.  met with Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz on 07 September to discuss bilateral cooperation in tourism, joint efforts to further increase tourist arrivals, and the possibility of Manila-Tel Aviv direct flights. 

Both officials were pleased to note the surging number of tourists from each other’s countries. Per Department of Tourism (DOT) data, 10,312 Israeli tourists visited the Philippines from January to August 2023. This figure has already surpassed the 9,711 recorded for the whole of 2022. 

Conversely, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism’s statistics showed that Filipinos visiting the Holy Land from January to August 2023 alone reached 22,800, exceeding the 22,500 total of 2022. As such, two-way tourism between the Philippines and Israel for this period  is already at 33,112, beating last year’s total of 32,200. 

To sustain this momentum, Ambassador Laylo proposed that chartered test flights be initially launched before deciding to launch regular direct flights in 2024. “I am confident  that the test flights will be fully booked by Israeli tourists flying to their dream Philippine  vacations, and by Filipino pilgrims en route to Tel Aviv and other Holy Land destinations. The cargo hold will also be filled to the brim by Philippine products in high demand in  Israel – such as our fresh pineapples and sweet mangoes” the envoy predicted. 

Ambassador Laylo invited Minister Katz to visit the Philippines before the year ends to meet Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, sign the Philippines-Israel Tourism agreement, and hold a dialogue with Philippine Airlines on the possibility of direct flights. 

Minister Katz accepted the invitation, saying he intends to see for himself what the Philippines wants to show Israeli tourists. Ambassador Laylo offered to bring Minister Katz to El Nido and Siargao, beach destinations extremely popular among Israeli beach lovers and surfers. The Ambassador also recommended that the Minister bring with him a delegation of Israeli travel operators and tour agencies. 

In response to complaints about strict border screening in Israel, Minister Katz assured that the Tourism Ministry will work with Israeli airport and immigration authorities to  improve the arrival experience of Filipino tourists at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport. 

Boosting tourism is part of Ambassador Laylo’s mission to expand channels of mutual  prosperity between the Philippines and Israel. To this end, the Embassy works closely with DOT and partner Israeli tour operators in promoting Philippine destinations to the  Israeli market, through tourism trade summits, social media campaigns, and  familiarization tours in the Philippines. END

Ambassador Laylo presents Minister Katz with a tray designed with Philippine textiles.

Minister Katz gives Ambassador Laylo a gift from the Tourism Ministry.

For more information, visit https://www.telavivpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.org.il, https://www.facebook.com/PHinIsrael/, or https://twitter.com/PHinIsrael.