Last update - 00:00 15/12/2006
In spite of terror warnings, India stays on Israelis' travel itineraries
There have been no cancelations for [trips to] India as a result of the warnings from the National Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Division on Al Qaida's threats for Goa, and there is no expectation that there will be [any cancelations]," say travel agents.
The reason is that Goa is not a destination in itself for Israelis, but only part of their Indian itinerary. Those who are worried about Goa, will simply avoid it, say agents. Due to the pleasant weather at this time of year in India, flights to Mumbai are full.
Most of the calls about the situation are from worried parents, and not the travelers.
About 40,000 Israelis visit India every year, of which 30,000 travel there directly and the rest make it part of a broader trip to the Far East.
About 80 percent are backpackers, and the remainder are regular travelers as well as many parents who follow their children to India.
At the same time, the Sinai peninsula has suffered as a result of the warnings about Israelis visiting, in spite of predictions that Israelis would ignore warnings of terrorist activities there.