This is reported by the Ministry of Tourism of Israel. The department attributed the growth not only to the increased activity of the outbound tourism market in Russia, but above all to the program that began to subsidize charter flights to the airport "Uvda."
"In connection with the beginning of the third stage of the incentive program for subsidizing charter flights from the Russian Federation to Eilat (Uvda airport), the number of tourists arriving directly to Eilat has increased by 40%," the Israeli Ministry of Tourism said.
According to the Russian representation of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, just from the beginning of the flight program - from September 3 to November 12, 2017 from Russia, 53 flights to Eilat were completed with an average load of 82%. In total, 8,959 visitors from the Russian Federation arrived to Uvda airport. For comparison, in 2016, from the date of the start of the flight program - on October 2 to November 12, 2016, 36 flights with an average load of 86% were organized, 6,407 tourists from Russia were transported.
Recall that in the framework of the program, the Ministry reimburses travel and airlines that organize flights to the airport "Uvda", the amount of 45 euros for each passenger. It is worth noting that the previous stage of the program showed excellent results. Between October 2, 2016 and April 9, 2017, there were 150 flights with an average load of 82%, whereas from October 8, 2015 to April 9, 2016, 80 flights to Israel's southern airport were organized with an average load of 73%. In total, 26,043 guests from Russia came to Uvda airport, which is 113% more than in the same period last year - 12,229 tourists from Russia. In total, the participants of the program in Russia were paid 1 million 120 thousand euros in grants.
Recall that today a third of all Russian tourists arrive in Israel through the tour operators. In Eilat, the share of the organized tourist flow from Russia is close to 100%