Tel Aviv keeps an eye on tourism boom with ‘amazing’ Eurovision week

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Eurovision hasn’t unveiled its winner. But tourists in Israel for the competition were mentioning the host city, Tel Aviv “amazing”, with officials expecting to capitalize on the momentum for future events.

Just a day before the first round of semi-finals, i.e. on Monday, it began in a close by convention centre, downtown Tel Aviv was bustling with a Eurovision vibe.

On the elegant Rothschild Boulevard, volunteers in purple t-shirts and matching hats were offering Eurovision visitors with booklets and information in terms of the city and competition venues.

A short distance away, crowd of people were gathering for a free walking tour of the LGBT landmarks of the city, operated by Sandeman which had broadened its normal Tel Aviv repertoire for Eurovision week.

On the sandy beach underneath the Hilton hotel, Laszlo Lukacs was relishing the afternoon sun and breeze on a recliner.

To Lukacs, a Zurich-based Hungarian in software sales, the Israeli venue was an appealing twist in the Eurovision plot.

“It’s super exciting for us Europeans to come here,” said Lukacs, who has followed Eurovision to each host country for the past six years.

“Is this Europe, talking about Eurovision, is it the Middle East, all these different religions mixing here,” he said.

As Tel Aviv was bit pricey, Lukacs said its residents were “super helpful so far and very nice, very friendly people.”

“So far it’s a very positive and interesting experience,” he added.

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