A fascinating attraction for the Israeli tourist, perfect for both summer and winter vacations for the whole family:
Andorra – the Magical Principality of the Pyrenees.
Senior officials in the Andorran tourism industry are to arrive in Israel on April 24th, 2013, to promote the tourism ties between the two countries and their respective tourism industries, and to reveal Andorra as an attractive destination for the Israeli tourist, in summer as well as winter.
The media is invited to a special meeting, to be held at the Dan Tel Aviv Hotel, on April 24th at 12:30 PM.
On April 24th, 2013, at 12:30 PM, The tourism authority of The Principality of Andorra will hold a special event at The Dan Tel Aviv Hotel, in which senior officials in the Andorran tourism industry, visiting Israel to attend the event, will present the main winter and summer attractions of the magical Andorran Principality in the Pyrenees to the Israeli tourist.
Among the event’s participants will be Andorran travel agents, hoteliers and tourist attraction managers. During the gathering, Joaquim Tomàs , trade director of the Andorran tourism authority, will present the main attractions Andorra has to offer for the Israeli tourist.
On the southern slopes of the Pyrenees, bordering Spain and France, amidst mountains, rivers and crystal clean air, lies The Principality of Andorra, the country with the largest variety of international level ski resorts in southern Europe. Andorra boasts over 300 kilometers of ski slopes, as well as a wide variety of shopping centers, spas, resorts and many other summer activities. Visitors can enjoy the spectacular view of the Pyrenees, skiing and snowboarding in winter and excellent climbing routes in summer. Shopping enthusiasts will be happy to discover that all shopping is duty free.
As aforesaid, Andorra is, most of all, famous for its ski resorts. Not only do visitors to Andorra enjoy the best ski in the Pyrenees, they do so for prices that are lower than those offered by other western European countries. Located in its eastern region and boasting a wide variety of routes and attractions, Andorra’s largest and leading ski resort is Grandvalira. Another important tourist destination is the Caldea Baths, where visitors can relax in hot springs, swimming pools, hot tubs, Turkish Hammams and more. And also Inúu, a new and exclusive wellness center with personalized treatments for beauty and health.
But winter is not the only time to visit Andorra, for it has a lot to offer in the summer as well. The rich legacy of Romanesque architecture and long and varied list of museums in Andorra make visiting it in the summer more than worthwhile. Both novice and experienced hikers will find impressive cliffs to climb and stunning hiking routes suitable for any pace, so that anyone can seize the opportunity to experience Andorra’s rich nature and incredible scenery. The country’s mountain resorts offer activities for the whole family: horseback riding, golf, tandem bicycling, go-carts, canoeing and more. One of Andorra’s most famous hiking destinations is the Madriu-Perafita Claror Valley, UNESCO´s World Heritage Site since 2004. Known for its beautiful combination of mountains and water.
The tourism relations between Israel and Andorra began about 10 years ago. Each year, the principality is visited by more than 2,000 Israeli tourists. Only 468 square kilometers in area, Andorra is a prosperous country, mostly thanks to its tourism industry and reputation as a tax haven.
Andorra is the only independent country where Catalan is the official language. The life expectancy in Andorra is nearly 83 years – one of the longest in the world. In 1993, Andorra adopted a constitution, establishing its regime as a representative parliamentary democracy.
Andorran economy relies mainly on tourism, which provides roughly 60% of its gross national product. Drawn by its duty free shopping and wonderful summer and winter resorts, Approximately 8 million tourists visit Andorra each year. Andorra is not a member of the European Union, but it does enjoy special ties with it. Its official currency is the Euro.
The highest point in Andorra is the Comapedrosa, towering at 2,942 meters above sea level. Andorra is criss-crossed by three narrow valleys that combine into one river, creating the shape resembling the letter Y. The river, called Valira, flows into Spain at the lowest point in Sant Julià de Lòria (850 meters above sea level). The Valira valley is home to Andorra’s capital, Andorra la Vella. To reach Andorra, one must first fly to Spain (driving distance from Barcelona is 220 km.) or France (to the Toulouse Blagnac airport).
