6,000 students from Israel and European countries are expected to converge on Eilat, Israel’s southern most tourism city, for FunJoya 2010 – the first international student festival of its type in Israel. The festival, which will take place from 2-4 September 2010 in Eilat with an investment of 4 million NIS, will include 2 nights and 3 days packed with social and cultural events, pool parties in the participating hotels, movie screenings, karaoke, stand-up performances and live shows by Mashina, Eddy Watta, Tislam and Global Deejays. The students will also participate in workshops and debates on various political, diplomatic and hasbara issues.

Attractively-priced package deals including accommodation and flights are available via ISSTA and El Al and students will also enjoy discounts and benefits at about 100 participating restaurants, cafes and stores in Eilat.

Thousands of hotel rooms in the six participating hotels in Eilat have been reserved for the festival, which is expected to generate millions of shekels revenue for the resort city. In addition to the enjoyable festival experience for the students, the organizers have set additional goals – these include branding Israel as an attractive tourism destination for students, an improvement in Israel’s image among this target group and facilitating multi-cultural encounters for students from Israel and European countries.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov: “The student festival is of great importance to the city of Eilat and to the State of Israel, both in terms of promoting student tourism to the resort city which will in turn contribute to the local economy and in the encounter these tourists will enjoy with Israel and its touring, cultural and entertainment options. We will work to ensure the festival is an annual event and to bring new sectors to Israel in general and Eilat in particular and expose them to an attractive and quality vacation in Israel.”