A delegation of high-ranking officials in Portugal's tourism industry headed by the Minister of Tourism, Adolfo Mesquita Nunes, will arrive in Israel in the coming days on the occasion of the International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM).
The objective of this first official promotional approach to the Israeli market is twofold: encourage the increase of tourist flows between Portugal and Israel and strengthen the bilateral relations in the field.
According to Portugal’s Ministry of Tourism, 35,018 Israeli tourists visited Portugal between January and September of 2013, registering 63,353 lodging arrangements. During 2012, a total of 27,800 Israeli tourists visited Portugal (a 6.3% increase, compared to 2011), registering 53,500 lodging arrangements (a 3.2% increase).
One of the oldest countries in Europe, Portugal has a unique cultural legacy, where tradition and modernity blend together in harmony, an exceptional range of different landscapes just a short distance away, and a wide variety of leisure activities. Its superb cuisine, outstanding wines – among the best in the world – and friendly people, who like to share their table, customs and traditions, turn Portugal into a tourist destination of the highest quality, backed by a state-of-the-art tourism infrastructure.
With a mild climate and over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year and hundreds of kilometers of splendid beaches bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal is the perfect holiday destination all year round, in each of its seven tourism regions: Porto and the North, Center of Portugal, the Lisbon Region, Alentejo, Algarve, and the archipelagos of Madeira and Azores.
Just a few hours from away from several European capitals, with international airports in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal (Madeira), and Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal attracts visitors from all over the world, who come for short breaks or longer holidays and depart on journeys across the natural and cultural diversity of the different regions.
Come and discover Portugal's culture and traditions, and its network of Jewish heritage routes. Visit the historic villages and castles that defended the nation's borders, its churches, palaces and impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites, and explore its natural parks, rivers and lakes. Enjoy nature, golf, sea and Sun, surfing, rafting, rock climbing and a wide variety of radical sports. And feel the magic of Fado, a World Heritage and one of the most genuine expressions of Portugal.
Israir Airlines and Sund'or International Airlines both operate weekly charter flights between Tel Aviv and Lisbon during the period May - October. Both the Portuguese and the Israeli authorities are working to promote an effective increase of the flight capacity between the two countries and establish regular direct flights all year round.
