JERUSALEM PLACED NO. 4 IN TRIPADVISOR’S 2013 TRAVELERS’ CHOICE™ AWARDS FOR DESTINATIONS ON THE RISE.
Jerusalem was ranked fourth in TripAdvisor’s 2013 Travelers’ Choice™ Awards for Destinations on the Rise. The world’s largest travel site awards several citations every year and this particular award highlights 54 spots globally that have seen the greatest increase in positive traveler feedback and traveler interest, year-over-year.

In the first nine months of 2013, international tourism grew by 5% according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. The number of international tourist arrivals reported by destinations around the world increased by some 41 million between January and September, growing above UNWTO’s initial forecast and creating an important stimulus to the receiving economies.

Turkish Airlines continues to “Widen Your World” with the addition of Kano (Nigeria) as its 242nd destination and N’djamena (Chad) as the 243rd. Already a globally recognized brand, Turkish Airlines again strengthens its presence in Africa and now has a presence at 36 destinations in 25 African countries, making it one of the leading carriers to the continent. “Europe’s Best Airline”* is now a dominant presence in Africa.

CONVENE, the Baltic Sea Region meetings industry convention, has announced a partnership with the new national airline AIR LITUANICA. CONVENE is intended to accelerate the development of the Baltic Sea Region as a base for international meetings, conventions and incentive programme trips in the private and public sector. In February 2014, its second year, it will again feature a Hosted Buyer Programme that allows buyers to visit the convention with many complimentary benefits.

With dozens of churches scattered throughout the Christian Quarter of the Old City including the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion, the Tomb of the Virgin on Mount of Olives and the Garden Tomb just outside the Old City, there are many Christmas services for tourists and visitors from which to choose, including in different languages. Equally, the magical neighborhood of Ein Karem offers a number of monasteries as well as the Church of John the Baptist for Christmas prayer.

The Spanish carrier posted a 90.47% rating in November. Its lowest overall rating since April was a high 88%
The specialist publication FlightStats reports that in November Iberia moved up a notch to sixth place among the world’s airlines in the punctuality rankings, with an overall rating of 90.47%.