It is a challenging time for Israeli tourism. Apart from the national airline, few carriers currently operate flights to and from Israel, and active conflicts in the region further complicate the situation. \u201cBut next year will be a year of peace, I feel it,\u201d said Dani Shahar, the Director General of Israel\u2019s Ministry of Tourism, sharing an optimistic outlook with journalists at a Rome hotel at the end of October. At his side was Kalanit Goren Perry, the Milan-based representative of the Israel National Tourism Office. Shahar was visiting Rome and the Vatican to promote new travel itineraries linked to the 2025 Jubilee.
\n\u201cWe are a country rich not only in history but also in spirituality,\u201d Shahar remarked, emphasizing that the Jubilee represents an exceptional opportunity to strengthen the historic bond between Italy and Israel. \u201cOur friendship is strong, with collaborations spanning multiple fields: economy, marketing, tourism, and notably pilgrimage. These are difficult months, but we look to the future with optimism.\u201d
\nThe record-breaking tourist numbers of 2019 \u2013five million annual visitors to Israel\u2013 seem distant. Today, only \u201csolidarity tourism\u201d is active, with much of the usual activity stalled. \u201cBut we\u2019re confident we\u2019ll soon return to those numbers,\u201d Shahar reiterated, sharing his belief in a swift recovery. Israel is preparing with hundreds of millions of shekels in investments to expand its hospitality infrastructure, including hotels.
\nIsrael\u2019s new ambassador to the Holy See, Yaron Sideman, echoed this optimism: \u201cThe Jubilee is just around the corner, and we\u2019ll soon celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Nostra Aetate declaration (the 1965 Vatican II declaration that reshaped the Catholic Church’s relationship with non-Christian religions). There are countless opportunities for collaboration, and the sky is the limit.\u201d Israel, he added, \u201cis a place where many people can rediscover their roots and gain a unique perspective on cultural pluralism.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"