American soldiers stationed in West Germany are increasingly interested in vacationing in Israel this year, according to the American Express Military Travel, which offers special travel tours for United States Army personnel.
According to the Bavaria-based company, the travellers seem to be interested in Israel as a holy land sacred to Jews, Christians and Moslems. For $590, the soldiers are offered a round trip with a week-long excursion, including visits in Caesaria, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights, the Dead Sea, Massada and Jerusalem, The price is relatively low compared to similar tours offered from Germany.
Though the German press has lately been critical of tourist services in Israel because of an alleged 30 percent increase in hotel rates, general German tourism to Israel seems to be rising rapidly. Many of the 25 weekly flights to Israel are sold out and tour operators and travel agents have registered many more bookings than last year.
One of the reasons for the sharp increase in services in Israel in terms of the German Mark is the relative weakness of the Mark compared to the American dollar. Prices in Israel are fixed in dollars.
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