Tourism Ministers from the UAE, Bahrain and Israel came together at WTM Virtual for the first time since signing historic agreements to normalise relations in September this year.
The accords, signed on September 15, set in motion a host of business opportunities and intergovernmental agreements as well as creating exciting tourism prospects in the region for the first time.
Since the accords were signed, Israel’s first commercial flight – carrying a high-level delegation from Israel and the US – landed in the UAE, while the first commercial passenger flight to Israel by a carrier from the UAE landed at Israel’s Ben-Gurion international airport in October.
Israel's Transportation Ministry has announced there will be 28 direct weekly passenger flights connecting Tel Aviv with Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Starting from the beginning of 2021, 14 weekly flights will operate between Bahrain and Tel Aviv, as well as other airports including Eilat and Haifa
Starting from the beginning of 2021, 14 weekly flights will operate between Bahrain and Tel Aviv, as well as other airports including Eilat and Haifa airports. Five weekly cargo flights will also operate on the route, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani confirmed in late November.
On day one of WTM Virtual, WTM hosted a discussion among tourism ministers from the three countries.
"Travel makes us more tolerant and accepting of other cultures. Besides the economic impact, we’ll soon realise we have much more in common," said Dr Ahmad bin Abdullah Belhoul Al Falasi, the UAE Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs.
"We are international; we are a melting pot. Adding Israel to the pot will make it even tastier," he said, adding that he anticipated strong tourism demand.
Israel’s Minister of Tourism Orit Farkash-Hacohen said: "The tourism industry is going to put things into a fast-forward motion. I feel like we’re witnessing history unfolding."
The agreements will yield positive results after the Covid-19 pandemic and benefit the region as a whole, said Bahrain's Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed bin Rashid Alzayani.
Bahrain's diversity and tolerance has given the kingdom a unique hospitality mark that distinguishes it from the rest of the region, he said.
Meanwhile, UAE hotels are already introducing Kosher meals in preparation for welcoming Israeli tourists while Israel is recruiting tour guides with good Arabic.
Israel’s Islamic and historical sites are expected to be of interest to travellers while the high-tech attractions of the UAE will draw visitors in the other direction.
Marketing for multi-centre tourism across all three countries was even under discussion.
The ministers expect World Expo in Dubai next October to be a ‘great opportunity’ for their destinations to showcase their tourism potential to each other and possibly even lead to others joining the Abraham Accords.