NEW YORK -- As the unrest in Israel enters its eighth month,
American tour operators that offer packages to the Holy Land have
learned, out of necessity, to be creative in their business.
For example, Ariel Tours, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based operator, has
been focusing on family packages and solidarity groups -- groups
that are visiting the country to express support for Israel.
"That's the trick: to have a lot of faith and be creative," said
Meir Weingarten, president of the firm.
However, his creativity does not stop at the office door.
Weingarten takes his job home with him.
He appears on Jewish radio programs in New York, where he
regularly provides commentary on events in Israel, and often speaks
at synagogues.
In the past eight months, he has encouraged travelers to Israel
to speak out against what he considers inaccurate treatment in the
media and also has worked with local politicians to combat the
State Department's warning against visiting the Holy Land.
"This kind of work is important," said Weingarten. "I'm not in
the travel business as much as in the Israel business."
After citing an account of violence in Israel, Weingarten said,
"When you read something like that, it's upsetting on a personal
level. These are places I've visited. This is one of the most
difficult times that we're going through."
Weingarten has experienced this kind of rough market before: He
took over the company, founded by his father, at the height of the
Persian Gulf war.
Weingarten acknowledged that since the onset of the troubles
last fall, his firm has suffered and has had to lay off
employees.
"We're coming off a period of time when we couldn't get enough
manpower to do the work," he said.
"Before this, we couldn't handle the phones."
Weingarten said Ariel's smaller size means it can "update agents
in real time," with new offers or rates available on the company's
Web site at www.arieltours.com.
"The situation ain't so hot, so we've got to push ourselves,"
said Weingarten.
"If we don't, we're going to have a problem."
As one might expect with the current situation in Israel, there
are deals to be had.
Through June 21, Weingarten said, Ariel is offering roundtrip
air on El Al to Tel Aviv from New York plus a seven-day car rental,
with automatic transmission and unlimited mileage, for $850 a
person.
The operator can combine that offer with five nights in a deluxe
hotel, the Inbal Laromme Hotel in Jerusalem, for a total of $1,197
per person.
In the summer, the operator will offer family packages with
negotiated rates for two rooms (one for the kids). Rates have not
yet been determined.