Israel's Minister of Tourism, Haim Katz, and Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco signed a joint declaration on Tuesday to foster cooperation in the field of tourism between the two countries.

"We are excited to see such strong interest from Filipino travelers to Israel," said Minister Katz, who is visiting the Philippines from 2 to 5 December 2024.

"With the upcoming Jubilee Year, we anticipate even more Filipinos will be eager to experience the Holy Land and the rich history, culture, and hospitality Israel offers. We hope to see direct flights between Israel and the Philippines very soon; this will boost tourism and people-to-people exchange,” he shared.

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Ilan Fluss stated that Minister Katz's official visit demonstrates the strong, historically friendly bilateral relations between Israel and the Philippines, especially in tourism.

“I hope this will encourage tourism exchanges between our nations, particularly with the visa-free travel for Filipinos to Israel and vice versa. I invite Filipinos to experience Israel not just as the Holy Land but to enjoy its culinary scene and explore the Land of Innovation and the Start-Up Nation,” he explained.

Minister Katz's visit highlights Israel's commitment to expanding its presence in the Philippine market, especially for divers and nature lovers. “Israelis find the Philippines an attractive destination for diving and water activities,” Ambassador Fluss said.

Since opening its tourism office in the Philippines in 2017, Israel has seen a remarkable 65 percent increase in Filipino visitors in its first year alone. In 2023, a record-breaking 33,000 Filipinos traveled to Israel.

During his stay, Minister Katz will promote Israel as a premier destination for wine enthusiasts and engage with Filipino distributors of Israeli wine. He will also meet with the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), connect with religious leaders in Manila, and hold discussions with the President of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to advance the goal of establishing direct flights between Israel and the Philippines. This initiative aims to enhance tourism and people-to-people exchange by making travel between the two countries more convenient and accessible.