Panel To Seek Ways To Ease Visa Process For Russian Tourists

"Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday decided to establish a joint committee of the tourism, interior and foreign ministries to explore ways to ease the visa process for Russian tourists wishing to visit Israel. Tourism Minister Abraham Hirchson asked the prime minister to look into the matter, and Sharon ordered the committee to present its findings within 30 days. Hirchson told the cabinet of the "enormous losses" Israeli tourism is suffering due to bureaucratic foot-dragging over visas. His ministry estimates that some 20,000 Russian tourists cannot visit Israel due to the current visa guidelines, at a cost of NIS 170 million to GDP over two months, and NIS 850 million over a year."

Source: Zohar Blumenkrantz. Panel to seek ways to ease visa process for Russian tourists. Haaretz Daily (18 April 2005 / Nisan 9, 5765) [FullText]