Travellers' Checks | Israel’s new airport puts Petra in Jordan and Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera on region’s travel map
- Serving southern Israeli city of Eilat, Ramon Airport is a one-hour connection from Tel Aviv
- Also, Japan introduces 1,000 yen ‘sayonara tax’ for tourists
The opening of an airport serving the southern Israeli city of Eilat this month brings up some interesting options for potential visitors to the region. Replacing the civilian and military Ovda Airport 60km to the north of Eilat, and the city’s small domestic downtown airport, Ramon Airport is also being promoted as a gateway to southern Jordan, including Petra and Wadi Rum – as well as Taba, at the northern end of Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera.
Shuttle buses are expected to operate directly from the airport (which is a 10-minute drive from Eilat) into Jordan and Egypt after it opens to international flights in March.
Land passage between Eilat and Taba is also reported to be currently quite straightforward, although it’s worth checking the latest travel advisories or asking locally about the security situation. Taba isn’t much to write home about, but historic Pharaoh’s Island, a little further along the coast, certainly is.
One travel guide that includes all the locations mentioned here is the DK’s Jerusalem, Israel, Petra and Sinai. A new edition is due out in April. Ramon will open for domestic flights on January 22.
Japan launches 1,000 yen ‘sayonara tax’ for tourists
