Israelis may not be known for politeness, but once overseas they spend so freely that every country wants a piece of the action.
Hotels in Petah Tikva, Ra'anana, Rehovot and Gedera cater to businesspeople, relatives visiting from abroad, and medical tourists.
Low-cost airlines are gaining ground at El Al's expense.
Roundtrip fares will start from $1,000 for the flights, which commence in July.
While Israel celebrates a record 4 million tourists in 2018, Greece attracted 33 million tourists.
The Israeli carrier is introducing flights from Tel Aviv to Goa and to Cochin.
The three other bidders are the Elco group, the Kedma Capital investment fund, and the Nir Weizman-Brown Hotels group.
Tickets go on sale on February 25 for the new London Heathrow – Ben Gurion Airport route.
A new company will be formed to build hotels in Tel Aviv under the Play brand.
The passenger on an overbooked Budapest - Tel Aviv flight was not given payment for food, lodging, or a delay in his flight, and also had to pay for another flight the next day.
1,700 hotel rooms and 1,920 housing units are planned for the old airport's southern and central sections.
The new airport offers exemptions from landing fees and Israeli government subsidies per passenger.
The new, NIS 1.7 billion airport has 100 times the space of Eilat's old airport.
Low-cost airlines are often more punctual and have newer planes while full-service airlines don't always give full service.
Israel is missing out on the tourism potential of the Red Sea, Negev and Arava and could learn much from the Jordanians.
Tourism in Tel Aviv-Jaffa is moving from the seafront towards more historic areas.