DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN ISRAEL: EXPERIENCE FOR UKRAINE

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of development of tourism sphere in the state of Israel in the conditions of permanent military conflicts. This situation is aggravated by economic disadvantages caused by COVID-19. It is noted that the world and the region of Europe, which is the main supplier of tourists to Israel after the lifting of the travel ban, recorded a trend of rapid resumption of tourist flows. The aim of the study is to highlight Israel's experience in restoring the tourism sector in 2021-2022. The main methods of research were analysis and synthesis of collected information, method of generalization, statistical forecasting. The Central Bureau of Statistics of Israel records that each case of worsening military conflict deprives the state of every fourth tourist and more than half a billion dollars. In 2019, Israel hosted 4.55 million foreign visitors. In 2021, after the world travel ban, recorded only 0.396 thousand foreign visitors, so the main focus of the state government was to support domestic tourism. Specifically, the domestic market acted as a stabilizer for the country's tourism sector. The structure of foreign tourist flow for 2019, which is a record number of foreign visitors, was analyzed. It was found that the main countries of tourists are the U.S. and European countries. Ukraine is in the top 10, sending more than 130 thousand visitors. It is noted that the purpose of travel of foreign visitors to the country are: visiting friends and relatives, sightseeing, pilgrimage, rest. The state constantly paid attention to supporting the hotel sector and the air transport sector. Projects were implemented to support and modernize the market (the creation of "green islands of tourism"). Significant attention was paid to the development of both traditional types of tourism and the creation of new tourist offerings with active means of transportation for certain categories of visitors. Among the innovative types of tourism - eco-tours held in the mountains and deserts, the development of recreation at the hot springs and therapeutic mud of the Dead Sea, recreation and water sports (diving) on the coast of the Red and Mediterranean Seas.