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Historical agreement with the United Arab Emirates
Forget Eilat: Israelis plan to flock to Abu Dhabi
Everyone is now in euphoria, but the agreement with the UAE is a threat to destinations like Eilat, especially if the UAE becomes a back-to-back destination.
So what do they have to offer Israelis, and why might the luxury hotels in the country not be good enough for the tourist from the union?
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United Arab Emirates
Eilat
Eyal Shapira
Friday, 04 September 2020, 09:42
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In the video: Walla!
NEWS from Abu Dhabi (Photo: Barak Ravid and GPO, Editing: Nir Chen)
It seems that everyone has just been waiting for the green light, to start acting and planning how to realize the holiday fantasy in the destinations of the United Arab Emirates.
Just a few days ago, for example, before the ink was dry on the new agreements, Tal Aviation announced that it would start selling airline tickets to Israelis at Etihad Airways, the United Arab Emirates' national airline, but even in the past Israelis could purchase tickets. Flight with airlines from the UAE, although not implemented.
It was reported in the news, and on Tuesday (Wednesday) it was even announced that Saudi Arabia will allow flights between Israel and the Emirates to pass over its territory on a regular basis, which will lead to the promotion of the air relations agreement between Israel and the Emirates.
So everyone is talking in praise of the agreement and its benefits, but has anyone stopped for a moment and thought about its less positive implications for the Israeli tourism industry?
"Everyone is now in economic euphoria, but we must take into account that the agreement poses a threat to destinations such as Eilat, especially if Abu Dhabi becomes a belly-back destination," says
Prof. Yaniv Poria, head of the Department of Hotel and Tourism Management at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and academic director Of the Eilat Campus in
an interview with Walla!
Tourism.
"If this happens, and if the UAE is a quality and cheaper destination than Eilat, Israelis will flock there. They will consider a vacation in the UAE a vacation that has a high value in terms of value for money. Remember that occupancy rates in Eilat hotels are high thanks to Israelis and not tourists." To.
And this, also regardless of of course the corona plague.
"Just as the Israeli tourist found alternatives to Eilat in Turkey or Bulgaria, so it may happen in everything related to the United Arab Emirates."
More on Walla!
NEWS
Adventure Bay
To the full article
"If the emirates are a cheap destination, Israelis will flock there."
Atlantis de Palm Hotel, Dubai (Photo: Imagebank GettyImages)
A vacation with a high value when it comes to value for money.
Sunset against the backdrop of the Burj Klifa Tower in Dubai (Photo: Dean Ariel)
"A target presented without hostility towards Israelis"
According to Poria, in addition, beyond being a tummy tuck vacation, it should be remembered that a vacation in the UAE will enchant Israelis also thanks to the well-known shopping experience of this destination.
And this is exactly the mix that Eilat is also trying to market to Israelis.
And yet, this is an Arab country and there will be those who might hesitate?
"It is important to note that on the part of the Israeli media, we are very sympathetic to the United Arab Emirates. Anyone who analyzes the news in the media, as well as the talkbacks in these articles, concludes that this is a safe destination, where the population is sympathetic to Israelis." "The result is, in my opinion, that the Israeli tourist will be ready to board a flight to the United Arab Emirates tomorrow morning."
More on Walla!
NEWS
Watch: The video calling on residents of the Emirates to come to Israel has become a hit
To the full article
The Israeli is ready to board a flight to the Emirates tomorrow. "An El Al plane lands in Abu Dhabi, this week (Photo: Reuters)
A flight over Saudi Arabia means promoting aviation between Israel and the Emirates.
The first flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, this week (Photo: Amos Ben Gershon, GPO)
Abu Dhabi - safer than Eilat?
Floating views of the Emirates.
Prof. Poria (Photo: Danny Michals)
Prof. Poria cites studies in the field of tourism, which show that Israelis tend to fly to certain destinations for the simple reason that they have not been there yet.
"In the case of the United Arab Emirates, even Israelis have the opportunity to visit a relatively close destination, different from an intriguing one and one that is perceived as safe, so I expect an influx," he says.
Will you define "flow"?
Is it already possible to evaluate numerically?
"I estimate that in a short time, we will see tens of thousands of Israelis a year flying to the UAE. Already now, there are travel agents who are working hard on it."
So Eilat will be hit even though it is a destination that may be perceived as safer?
"I'm not sure that Eilat is still perceived as safe, especially in light of the latest news. Ask parents of boys and girls aged 15, 16 how safe Eilat is. Maybe for those young people, a vacation in the UAE will be more secure than a vacation in Eilat."
He said that not only Eilat would be affected by the expected agreement but also other Israeli destinations such as Tiberias, and even destinations abroad such as London. "Some of those Israelis who fly to London because they are interested in culture will now turn to the United Arab Emirates.
These tourists will look for the other and the different.
This is the essence of tourism.
But the destinations that can be hit are back-to-back destinations such as Eilat and vacation destinations in Turkey.
Especially if the union knows how to give Israelis a cheap, interesting and safe vacation. "
"A relatively close destination, different, intriguing and perceived as safe."
Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi (Photo: Dean Ariel)
The Emirates has a world-renowned shopping experience.
Housing Market, Dubai (Photo: Imagebank GettyImages)
Jumping for surgery in Dubai?
And what about the clash between the conservatism and restraint that characterize the residents of the union and the Israeli mentality, which can sometimes be loud?
Israelis haggle over shopping and argue about politics.
You do not watch cultural friction here?
"When you arrive at a new and unfamiliar place, you feel uncertain, and behave according to the rules of the place. The behaviors you describe occur when the Israeli arrives at a tourist destination where he feels he can violate the rules of conduct, especially when he is part of a large group. "At the American embassy? Like good children. In my opinion, in the UAE, Israelis will respect the laws of the place."
Beyond belly-back and shopping, what else can Israelis find in the UAE?
"It is known that the Israeli tourist is looking for new culinary experiences. If Israelis are exposed to cuisines they are unfamiliar with, such as Malaysian cuisine and others, it will be another attraction. In my estimation, there will also be thirst for authentic Arab food, such as we do not know here."
Poria adds that beyond all this, it is a destination that boasts excellent medical services.
According to him, it is possible that Israelis will fly to the United Arab Emirates to receive advanced, cheap, effective and no less important medical care - without long queues.
On the other hand, and for completely different reasons, he predicts that some of the residents of the union may come to Israel to receive medical treatment.
This is due to the reputation of the Jewish-Israeli doctor.
Will they come to us for medical treatment?
(Photo from a video calling on UAE residents to come to Israel)
Israel is a center for heritage trips for the residents of the union.
Friday prayer near the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount (Photo: Reuters)
What was in Tel Aviv - remains in Tel Aviv
If we have now mentioned the tourism from here to here, let us expand a little.
What will the residents of the union look for on vacation in Israel?
"Israel can be a focal point for trips with an emphasis on heritage, especially religious heritage. But beyond that, tourists who come from one culture to another will want to experience the full local experience. A tourist from Abu Dhabi can visit the holy sites in Jerusalem, and a day later, spend time in a bikini at the beach. "The sea in Tel Aviv. Things we are not allowed to do at home - we sometimes do it on vacation. Tourists who are not allowed to drink alcohol in their country will want to try it on vacation."
"In addition, Israel, unlike countries like Switzerland, Romania and England, is not accustomed to the presence of foreign students, despite the enormous economic potential inherent in this field. Although there are few tourists, they come for very long periods. Students come from the UAE to Israel, and study here at university Professions that may contribute to their local economy can contribute to the tourism industry and the local economy. "
What should the Israeli tourism industry do tomorrow morning to prepare for the arrival of tourists from the UAE?
"The Ministry of Tourism needs to research and make available to tourists and hoteliers reliable information about the tourist's expectations from the UAE. What does he expect? What is he afraid of? It may be tourists who can spend a lot of money on accommodation. Such objects are of very high standards. In hotels like Hilton or David InterContinental in Tel Aviv, it may not be enough. They are looking for a more expensive and high-quality hotel experience. Therefore, we may find that there is a market segment that would be willing to pay to have a better quality experience, even at the level of interpersonal service. Their culture, to know what is allowed and what is not allowed to be said or done. "
"In my opinion, there is also tremendous potential for tourists from Arab society in Israel. It is possible that citizens of the United Arab Emirates will show great curiosity, to discover how the country's Arabs live and integrate into Jewish society."
You sound very optimistic about the tourism boom from here to here.
But if we look at peace with Jordan or Egypt, it seems that despite the agreements, Jordanian and Egyptian tourists do not fill the tourist sites in Israel.
How will UAE tourists differ?
"Tourists from Jordan and Egypt do not come for two main reasons. The first is the cost of vacation in Israel. The second is the nature of hostility between the two countries based on hostility. These two factors may not be relevant to UAE citizens: they are established and may have a more sympathetic opinion of Israel. Towards the Israelis. "
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