Azernews.Az

Israeli government is interested in Azerbaijan's investment in the tourism sector of the country and is ready to support Azerbaijani investors who want to work in Israel, Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov said in a meeting with Azerbaijani journalists.

According to him, the Israeli government may pay Azerbaijani investors subsidies of 20 percent. Today, the government is working on a program for the development of tourism at the Dead Sea region in the framework of which it is planned to build new hotels, infrastructure, and its implementation might be a good opportunity for Azerbaijani businessmen.

He said that against the backdrop of the world events Israel is a 'safe, secure and reliable country'.

"Israel today is an island of stability in a stormy world, and the current government is the most stable of all the previous ones. The government guarantees a stable business climate in the country, and foreign investors can safely operate in Israel," he said.

In the coming years, Israel plans to expand the geography of the countries from which tourists come to Israel and their list includes Azerbaijan, the minister said.

According to statistics, today the number of Azerbaijani tourists visiting Israel is very small, only about 2,000 people, but the ministry is interested in increasing the figure.

The ministry has prepared and submitted to the government a program to reduce the prices of tourist services in the country, which will play an important role in increasing the inflow of Azerbaijani tourists, he said.

Misezhnikov said simplification of visa regime between the two countries would be possible in the future.

Tourism is one of the priorities and profitable sectors of the economy of Israel. Israel is one of the most stable and popular tourist destinations. Summer tourists usually prefer a beach holiday, while in the autumn and winter season they travel there for rehabilitation.

"The resort tourism is actively developing in Israel. There are modern hospitals where the difficult surgeries for transplantation of organs. On the other hand, there are rehabilitation centers, for example, in the Dead Sea, where the rehabilitation course can be taken after a complex surgery," Misezhnikov said.

The onset of the fall season recently was no exception. Most tourists choose trips combined with a visit to the Red and the Dead Seas, Tel Aviv, Eilat and Netanya.

Pilgrimage tours, which appeared recently, have become popular as well.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Israel have increased considerably since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.