Abraham Sharir. Israel’s Minister of Tourism, predicted last night that once the Lebanese crisis is peacefully resolved which, he said, is a “matter of a few weeks,” American tourists will be able to go on “package tours to Egypt, Israel and Lebanon.”
Addressing some 120 travel agents from the New York area at a reception at the Regency Hotel here, the Israeli Minister said that in fact in recent weeks the Lebanese-Israeli border has been open for tourists from both countries. He said that American tourists can come now and “visit the pyramids in Egypt then come to visit the Holy Places in Israel and from there continue to enjoy the casinos of Lebanon.”
Sharir said, however, that the war in Lebanon, which started June 6, has reduced the number of American tourists to Israel by about five percent this summer compared with the same period last year. He said that many would-be tourists were scared because of the war in Lebanon and wrongly thought that Israel was an unsafe place to visit.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
