The BEYOND PRIDE: Israel for the experiential LGBT+ traveller webinar, organised in partnership with IGTO London, US and Canada brought forth some crucial insights about the current travel trends in Israel, especially for the LGBT community.
?Israel has opened business for domestic tourism, but borders for international tourists will not be opened till the end of September, when the Jewish holidays begin,? confirmed Sharon Ehrlich Bershadsky, director of IGTO. ?The main season that we are looking at, for the travel industry in Israel to recover, is the autumn-winter months of 2020,? she added.
The tour operators from Israel spoke about the current and future trends in travel, while the panel discussion came up with various ways in which travelling to Israel can be made much more inclusive, accessible and affordable for travellers, irrespective of their orientation.
Russell Lord, travel consultant from Kenes Tours said, ?I see older people ... willing to travel now. In the next phase of tourism, travel advisors are going to be crucial for having a safe and secure visit, no matter where you are going. It is my responsibility to check hotels for cleanliness, hygiene and observance of government guidelines, so that we act as a filter to prevent any unpleasant situation from arising. Clients too will be relying heavily on their agents, as this will be the first time they will be talking to people- who can help them with the trips?
He added ?Travel itineraries will change, as tours will be much more personalised, suitable for two or four people and we will have more evening tours that are booked in advance, as sites will be open till late at night. Other than the Pride month, April-May and September to November are also good for visiting Israel. Brown Hotels or Leon Hotels are offering more personalised services, with lesser crowds,? he said.
Shany Katzev, a tour guide, said, ?I see more couples and families coming now and there will be more down-to-earth travelling than parties- to see Israel more as a destination, with guided tours for smaller groups. LGBT travellers will be the first to return and the one?s who turn up, will explore the country in different ways- perhaps wishing to explore the destinations among their own."
A very significant point, made by Shany was about LGBT women travelling and their preferences about spots, experiences- something which is largely unexplored. She said, ?More women travellers are looking for a much more humane type of travelling, with workshops, activities such as apple picking, and those that look beyond the tourist attractions. But an LGBT women traveller can also come with family and friends, and not just with her partner. We have to keep all the options open.?
And yet both Russell and Shany agreed that they do not treat their LGBT clients differently, from other tourists. Except for the instance when they have knowledge and info about LGBTQ specific parties and activities in and around, they treat all their clients equally, orientation notwithstanding.
Nadav Peretz, CEO of Outstanding Travel, talked about how people cannot wait to come to Israel but there still remains the need to create more events. He says, ?People from Spain cannot wait to come to Israel again, as the people are very sweet and welcoming. The rate of return visitors is quite impressive, especially around March when the weather is nice. We need to introduce more events, in other months too, such as the Purim festival in March, which is like a Halloween for the Jewish which attracts as much crowd as the Pride. It is celebrated like a carnival and the weather is nice too. We need to introduce other months, like Christmas in the Holy Land, where people can come and enjoy themselves.?
?However, Israel is a very expensive country for people coming from Europe. If more airlines are introduced, it will reduce the cost of airfare,? he added. Russell was quick to add that Leon Hotels are working to create luxury as well as medium-budgeted hotels for travellers.
Nicholas Bettles from Virgin Atlantic says, ?As a brand we are known for supporting the LGBTQ community, as we are asked to bring ourselves to work, as we are- and that is what makes us aware of the true meaning of diversity and inclusivity. We have made a conscious effort to represent the LGBTQ community in our advertising, and have started Pride flights to London, Brighton and New York in the past. This year we wanted to start one for Israel but the plan got stalled due to COVID-19.?
The last portion of the panel discussion hinged heavily on the lack of opportunities and options for LGBT+ women for travelling to Israel.
Meg ten Eyck, from Everyqueer said, ?I ran a poll according to which adventure travel has been very popular with queer woman. But post-COVID, more gay women want to get married or honeymoon in Israel, so we have to see that lesbian women are not tokenised in advertising.?
Maartje Hensen from Once Upon a Journey, Ms Ehrlich Bershadsky?s and Mr Katzev echoed Ms ten Eyck's views, saying that the tourism industry should diversify the options for LGBT travellers, as Israel has everything to offer in one place - be it the history and culture, spiritual activities, wine tours or vegan dishes, as well as being a popular honeymoon destination.
