[size=85:1nvymwvt]Standart news 11 June 2010

Israeli Tourists Discover Bulgarian Beaches


Israel will redirect 400 000 of its tourists from Turkey to Bulgaria, as a direct result from the flaring Gaza conflict, Israeli Social Minister announced Thursday. “After the deterioration of our relations with Turkey, which was a main destination for about 400 000 of our tourists, naturally Bulgaria will be the best alternative for them,” Minister Isaac Herzog said at an official meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart, Totyu Mladenov.Herzog called upon the Bulgarian government to make efforts to advertise the country in Israel.“There are many retired people who go to spa resorts in Greece and Romania. The most natural thing for them would be to visit Bulgaria afterwards. Varna is a very popular tourist destination,” the Israel minister said and added many Israelis visit ski resorts as well.Herzog met with his Bulgarian counterpart to discuss cooperation on social issues;
Israel and Bulgaria are going to update a social issues convention they signed in 2009.

Weve had an Israeli family book today......

Looking at history Bulgaria is not at all popular with Turley because of past conflicts,so maybe this is a good step forward

[size=85:2eidbbxa]Sofia echo 16 June 2010

Israel is reportedly ready to "
redirect"
400 000 of its tourists from Turkey to Bulgaria in the wake of deteriorating relations between Jerusalem and Ankara following the attack on the humanitarian convoy for the Gaza Strip.

"
About 400 000 Israelis, who visit Turkey each year, will be redirected to Bulgaria as an alternative tourist destination,"
said Isaac Herzog, the Israeli welfare and social services minister, who was also a former minister for tourism.

Herzog had talks with Bulgarian Labour and Social Policy Minister Totyu Mladenov earlier in June and agreed that the two countries should increase co-operation, particularly in the sphere of tourism and welfare.

Turkey has traditionally been a favourite destination for Israeli holidaymakers but recent reports of insecurity and fear within Turkey's Jewish population has led the Israeli government to reassess its travel guidance advice.

Relations between Turkey and Israel, which had maintained close military ties in the past, became acrimonious after Israeli commandos stormed a ship with 700 people on board who were accompanying eight other vessels carrying 10 000 tonnes of medical supplies, housing material and other aid to Gaza.

Ankara summoned Israel's ambassador to protest against the Israeli action and several hundred people, waving Palestinian flags and wearing black-and-white kaffiyeh headscarves, rallied outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, shouting slogans denouncing "
Israeli imperialism"
.

Turkey's prime minister Recep Erdogan has also made overtures elsewhere following long-standing disagreements about Israel's treatment of Palestinians and the Gaza war. Matters reached a head when Erdogan stormed out of a meeting last year in Davos at the World Economic Forum with Israeli president Shimon Peres. In particular, Israel has been most alarmed by Erdogan's warm words towards Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who has repeatedly invoked the prospect of annihilation for Israel.