Chinese tourists wanting to visit Israel will now find it easier to do so thanks to the new regulations announced by the country’s tourism ministry.
In a government notice issued on Thursday, the Tourism Ministry announced that it has approved the issuance of 10-year multiple entry visas to Chinese visitors, China Travel Tourism News reported. Previously,. Tourists visas last for three months at a time.
Tourists coming as part of a tour group also need not worry about the 35 shekels (around $9) processing fee, as it has also been waived by the government. The fee, which was collected from travel agents on top of the handling fees they need to pay to private groups representing them in Israel, has long been decried as a significant obstacle for tour organizers.
The new regulations were part of the bilateral agreement signed by China and Israel to encourage more Chinese tourists to visit the country.
According to Israeli Tourism Minister Yarir Levin, the move will help greatly in attracting more Chinese tourists into the country. From 2015 to 2016, the number of visitors has grown yo by 112 percent, with around 6,400 tourists arriving in July 2016.
The increase in tourist visits has been attributed to the deal brokered by Levin with Chinese private airline Hainan Airlines to open a direct route from Beijing to Tel Aviv in April, Ynet News reported.
Levin considers China an important tourist market, with Chinese tourists spending as much as $1,947 per visit, a far cry from the general average of around $1,600, which is why he has reportedly made the country a major focus in the ministry’s efforts.