Tel Aviv Launches New Campaign To Attract Domestic Tourists

The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality is launching a new campaign geared toward attracting local tourists this summer as the global coronavirus health crisis continues to wreak havoc on the travel and hospitality industry worldwide.

The campaign offers benefits (Hebrew) for Israelis who book overnight stays at local hotels, including various free tours in different parts of the city, free chairs and parasols for those hitting the beach, free access to the city’s bicycle rentals, and a buy-one-get-one-free pass to a number of museums and attractions, according to a municipality announcement.

The campaign was launched in collaboration with the Tel Aviv Hotel Association and will run through August.

“The Ministry of Tourism and Hotel Association will continue to cooperate with the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality to promote tourism both during and after the corona[virus pandemic]. This summer is a great opportunity for many Israelis who have not yet experienced and visited Tel Aviv-Jaffa To discover what the city has to offer and fall in love with it,” said Tourism Minister Assaf Zamir.

Tel Aviv-Jaffa Mayor Ron Huldai said the city’s “vibrant tourism industry has supported thousands of businesses and [made a living for] tens of thousands of people until the coronavirus erupted. We are determined to bring this industry back to business, while complying with the…. rules at the beach, in restaurants, cafes, museums, and the various attractions.” Israel has largely eased restrictions imposed in March to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but still mandates mask-wearing and physical distancing of at least two meters between groups.

The tourism industry is suffering worldwide. In Israel, this sector has all but come to a screeching halt.

In 2019, Israel welcomed over 4.55 million tourists over the course of the year, an 11 percent increase compared to 2018, according to the Ministry of Tourism. The ministry said tourism revenue in 2019 reached approximately NIS 23 billion ($6.65 billion), a 55 percent increase from 2018.

Earlier this year, Tel Aviv released a long-term tourism “master plan” to become the most popular urban destinations in the world by 2030.