Yoav Zeitun.

Yedioth Ahronoth.

Israel’s national El Al Airlines officially began marketing travel packages targeting Europe’s gay community on Monday, in cooperation with the Tel Aviv Tourist Association and the city’s Rov Hair faction.

The special packages include a round trip from Europe, and a three-night stay in a Tel Aviv hotel, starting from the attractive price of €250 ($332).  

According to tourism branch sources, this is the first time El Al takes such a direct and upfront approach to gay tourism, that is courted around the world by travel agencies and airlines due to the great profit potential found among this population.

On average, gay tourists spend more time vacationing than non-gay tourists and are known to be bigger spenders. Continue Reading

By Yedioth Ahronoth reporters.

The Israeli bathing season officially opened and will last until October 17. Israel’s beaches spread across 306 kilometers (190 miles), but the authorized public beaches measure a little less than 19 kilometers (11 miles) in length. Another 190 kilometers (118 miles) belong to beaches which have not been declared, but which the public has access to. The public has no access to some 97 kilometers (60 miles).

In total, Israel has 137 authorized beaches, including 92 along the Mediterranean Sea, 24 in Lake Kinneret, 17 in the Dead Sea and four along the Red Sea. Continue Reading