Visa-Free
Travel From Ukraine To Israel
Cabinet approves removal of visa requirement, expects rise in tourism.
The cabinet on Sunday approved a proposal by the foreign and tourism ministers
to cancel the mutual tourist visa requirement between Israel and Ukraine.
The plan, which has been discussed for a year, is expected to raise the numbers
of tourists from the Ukraine.
At the meeting, Tourism Minister Stas Meseznikov argued for the change, noting
that the Tourism Ministry has been promoting tourism in the Ukrainian market for
several years.
However, obtaining a tourist visa in a procedure that is both cumbersome and protracted,
he said, and prevents the realization of the tourism potential from the Ukraine
to Israel.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed his support for the visa cancellation
and noted that the relevant ministries should work implement it. The visa cancellation
will go into effect after an agreement is signed by both countries’ foreign
ministers subsequent cabinet ratification.
“Given that with every 100,000 additional tourists, about 4,000 new jobs
are created and about $200 million injected into the economy, this is a decision
with important economic and social implications for the economy,” said Meseznikov.
“Russian tourism alone has already created thousands of new jobs and brought
in hundreds of millions of dollars into the Israeli economy since the cancellation
of the visa requirement in October 2008.”
In 2009 73,500 people visited Israel from the Ukraine.
According to Tourism Ministry estimates, the number would reach 200,000 a year
once the visa requirement is dropped.
The cancellation of visas for Russians produced a significant increase in incoming
tourists, from about 193,500 in 2007 to 402,000 in 2009.
The Tourism Ministry sees countries from the former Soviet Union, in particular
Russia and the Ukraine, as having great potential for incoming tourism.
Before the visa requirement from Russia was canceled, organized tour groups from
Russia and Eastern Europe were allowed to visit Israel for one day, a ministry
spokeswoman explained.
This option still exists today, but now, having been exposed to Israel, it is
easier for these day-trippers to come back for a longer visit.
The cabinet decision was greeted warmly by most local tourism operators.
“The cancellation of visa requirements from Ukrainian tourists who wish
to visit Israel will contribute to the development of incoming tourism to Israel,”
read a statement from the Incoming Tour Operators Association.
“This decision will enable the realization of the Ukrainian tourist potential
for travel, vacations and pilgrimages.”
Source: http://www.jpost.com