On December 5th, 49 presidents and chairmen of travel agencies’ associations from 28 EU countries arrived in Jerusalem to participate in the ECTAA 118th Semi-Annual Meeting. This is the first time that ECTAA, established in 1961, has been officially hosted in Israel.

The decision to hold the 118th Semi-Annual Meeting in Israel followed the initiative of the Israel Association of Travel Agencies and Consultants (ITTAA), also the organizer of the meeting. The Israel Tourism Ministry co-hosted, and MK Yariv Levin, the Minister of Tourism, greeted the participants at the opening session.

ECTAA’s members participating in the meeting held intensive work-discussions on various professional topics and also toured Jerusalem, the Judean Desert, Masada and the Dead Sea.

The EU Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, Tourism and SMEs, Mrs. Elzbieta Bienkowska, was the guest of honor of the event.

Kobi Karni, Chairman of The ITTAA: “I congratulate the ECTAA leaders and members. The decision to hold the meeting in Israel presents the valuable contribution of ITTAA to the EU travel organization, as well as our strong position with the world leading travel industry.”

Hanny Sobol, CEO of The Israel Association of Travel Agencies & Consultants: “I am pleased and excited to host the members of ECTAA in Israel for the first time since its establishment 57 years ago. This is a wonderful opportunity to present the best in Israel to trend-setters in the European tourism industry, to share with them the Israeli beauty and charm and to strengthen incoming tourism to Israel.”

The Israel Association of Travel Agencies and Consultants has been a member of ECTAA since 2015, and its CEO is an active member of the organization’s aviation committee.