As part of Minister of Tourism Haim Katz’s working visit to Manila, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday to strengthen ties and cooperation between Israel and the Philippines. The agreement, signed with the Philippines’ Secretary of Tourism, Christina Garcia Frasco, focuses on areas such as marketing, aviation, innovation, and digitization, alongside collaboration in international organizations.
During the visit, Minister Katz is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the annual conference of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, hold meetings with journalists, influencers, religious leaders, and the President of Philippine Airlines (PAL), and further enhance ties with key figures in the country’s tourism sector.
Progress Toward Direct Flights
As part of the minister’s visit, a meeting was held with the President and CEO of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to discuss the renewal of a direct flight route between Manila and Tel Aviv. The PAL President expressed readiness to proceed, highlighting that the airline is preparing to launch the route in the second half of 2025.
This step is expected to significantly facilitate travel for Filipino tourists to Israel and strengthen economic and tourism ties between the two nations. Minister Katz emphasized the importance of this move, particularly given the steady growth in visitors from the Philippines, which ranked fifth among incoming tourist numbers to Israel in 2024, with approximately 40,000 visitors, most traveling for religious purposes.
The upcoming Christian Jubilee Year (2025) offers a unique opportunity to increase religious tourism to Israel, with visitors able to receive the “Certificate of Forgiveness” as declared by the Pope. The planned direct flight will further enhance accessibility to Israel’s holy sites, boosting its appeal to Christian tourists.
Minister of Tourism Haim Katz stated:
“Upon taking office, I identified a significant increase in the number of tourists from the Philippines, which has remained stable even during challenging times, including during the war. The Philippines is a key country in Asia, and its citizens view Israel as a must-visit destination. We are committed to continuing and strengthening tourism ties with the Philippines and deepening cooperation between our nations.”
Philippines Secretary of Tourism Christina Garcia Frasco added:
“Israel and the Philippines share a tradition of warm relations, a common heritage, and shared faith, emphasized through cultural and tourism exchanges. We will continue to share knowledge in areas such as sustainable tourism and accessible tourism, aiming to strengthen the bond between our countries.”
In 2024, the Philippines ranked fifth in the number of incoming tourists to Israel, with approximately 40,000 visitors, most of whom traveled for religious purposes. The Israeli Ministry of Tourism, through its local office in Manila, conducts diverse marketing activities, including roadshows, seminars for travel agents, and collaborations with influencers and media. The upcoming Christian Jubilee Year in 2025 presents a unique opportunity to attract Christian audiences to Israel, offering the chance to receive a “Certificate of Forgiveness” as declared by the Pope. This theme will be central to marketing efforts in the Philippines in the coming year.
Tourism relations between the two nations are anchored in an agreement signed in 1987. The newly signed MoU lays the foundation for a broader tourism agreement that will expand areas of cooperation in the near future.
In the photo: Minister of Tourism, Haim Katz, and his counterpart, Secretary of Tourism, Christina Garcia Frasco. No credit required.
Follow BOTT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Subscribe BOTT Channels on WhatsApp & Telegram to receive real time updates
