China, Israel signed tourism deal

Chinese and Israeli representatives signed last week a tourism cooperation deal. The signing ceremony held in the Dan Carmel hotel in Haifa, marked the end of a week-long visit of the Chinese delegation's to promote Chinese tourism in Israel.
 
The tourism cooperation deal was made possoble following China's June granting Israel a status of an Approved Destination.
 
The Chinese delegation was brought to Israel under a joint initiative of the Union of Local Authorities and tourism organizations around Israel.
 
The delegation headed by director general of Asian and African tourism relations, Phang Zuko, visited Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Jaffa, Haifa , the Galilee, Caesarea, Acre and Nazareth.
Zuko said during the ceremony that Israel was an appropriate and interesting tourist destination for the Chinese. He also said he expected thousands of Chinese tourists to visit Israel in 2006.

In 2004 about 30 million Chinese citizens traveled abroad. Chinese foreign relations ministry estimated recentely that some 50,000 tourists reached Egypt and Turkey in 2004.