Manila: Israel's Ministry of Tourism is seeking to attract more travelers from Southeast Asia by strengthening ties with travel agencies in the Philippines and Singapore, as it promotes the country's destinations and assures visitors of safety.

According to Philippines News Agency, the ministry recently hosted a seven-day familiarization tour for travel agents from both countries, showcasing Israel's religious, historical, adventure, and leisure attractions as part of its campaign to expand arrivals from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. The itinerary included visits to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and Tel Aviv, as well as a jeep tour through the Judean Desert and a wine tour in the Golan Heights.

Hassan Madah, international director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism in Jerusalem, said the country remains open to international visitors. "We welcome you all. Israel is open to everyone, and travelers can be assured that our country is safe to visit," Madah said. He emphasized the ministry's hopes to welcome more visitors from the Philippines and Singapore, citing the country's religious sites, historic cities, deserts, and beaches as key attractions.

The ministry identified the Philippines as one of its priority markets in Asia, alongside India, China, and South Korea, with growth driven largely by faith-based travel. Singapore, meanwhile, is considered a strategic market because of its position as a regional aviation and travel hub. The tourism ministry noted it has been strengthening partnerships with Southeast Asian travel industry stakeholders through regional events, including ITB Asia in Singapore.

Despite the lack of direct flights between the Philippines and Israel, Filipino arrivals have remained steady, according to the ministry. The Department of Tourism and the Israel Ministry of Tourism have signed a joint declaration of intent to promote two-way tourism and are engaged in discussions with airlines on improving connectivity.

Israel Ministry of Tourism Philippines Marketing Manager Anna Oraiza Aban highlighted that visa-free travel access for Philippine and Singaporean passport holders makes visits to Israel more convenient. "Philippine and Singaporean passport holders can travel to Israel visa-free, making it even more convenient for travelers to experience everything the country has to offer," Aban said.