Israel’s Minister of Tourism, Haim Katz, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Philippines Secretary of Tourism, Christina Garcia Frasco, during a working visit to Manila. The MoU focuses on enhancing cooperation in marketing, aviation, innovation, and digitization, as well as collaboration in international organizations.
As part of the visit, Katz met with Philippine Airlines (PAL) President and CEO to discuss the renewal of a direct flight route between Manila and Tel Aviv, with the airline preparing to launch the route in the second half of 2025. This move aims to facilitate travel for Filipino tourists, particularly those visiting for religious purposes. In 2024, the Philippines ranked fifth in tourist arrivals to Israel, with approximately 40,000 visitors.
The Christian Jubilee Year in 2025 presents a unique opportunity to boost religious tourism to Israel, with visitors able to receive a “Certificate of Forgiveness” declared by the Pope. Minister Katz emphasized the importance of strengthening tourism ties with the Philippines, which has shown consistent growth in visitor numbers.
Secretary Frasco noted the shared heritage and faith between the two nations, emphasizing continued collaboration in sustainable and accessible tourism. The new MoU builds on a 1987 agreement and sets the stage for expanding tourism cooperation in the future.
