For every Russian tourist, Israel will pay 45 euros

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism has pledged to pay 45 Russian tour operators for every tourist arriving from Russia on holiday in the resort town of Eilat.

Thus, as noted on the website of the Association of Tour Operators (ATOR), any Russian travel company can count on a refund of up to one million euros. However, in order to receive compensation, tour operators must organize at least 16 direct flights to Ovda International Airport.

“Eilat is the perfect sunny destination for a beach holiday. We are confident that an increase in the number of direct flights will ensure that more tourists will have the opportunity to relax at this beautiful resort and enjoy the wide selection of entertainment and recreation that it offers,” said Ksenia Kobyakova, head of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism representative office in the Russian Federation and the CIS.

According to Kobyakova, the program will take effect from October 2015 and will end in April 2016.

The number of tourists who arrived from Russia to Israel last year was about 600 thousand people. From November 2014 to 1 in March 2015, the tourist flow from the Russian Federation decreased by 25%. This was due to the sharp fall in the ruble and the growth of the American and European currencies.