ETS

Specializing in Christian and Cultural Group Travel

Dear Valued Travel Agent:

We understand your concerns regarding the situation in the Middle East.

Let us assure you, we watch this situation very closely. Your group's safety is our primary concern.

How ETS Monitors the Situation in Israel:

 1) we watch developments as they unfold

 2) we consult the State Department travel advisories daily

 3) we stay in constant contact with our office in Jerusalem

 4) one of our executives is in the country almost every day from November through March

ETS Groups Continue to Enjoy the Holy Land:

During October, we had over 2000 passengers in Israel and during November, another 1000 will enjoy the experience of a Holy Land pilgrimage. We have a permanent staff in our Jerusalem office and we have staff from the USA in many of the large hotels we use in Israel. 

Two Reasons We think Israel will Not be a Target during any Military Actions:

 1) During the Gulf War, a fragile Arab-European Coalition would have splintered if Israel had retaliated to the Iraqi    attacks. This time, there is no such coalition and Israel would retaliate to any attack.

  This fact will probably be enough to keep Iraq from targeting Israel again.

 2) Iraq lost much of its long range missile capabilities during and after the Gulf War.

  Their ability to launch missiles has been sharply curtailed.

Common Myths about Security in Israel:

MYTH: Israelis are scrambling to obtain gas masks in preparation for an attack.

FACT: Gas Mask Centers are open year round. Trading-in masks is an everyday occurrence.

 Yet, this is what is shown on TV and presented as something unusual.

MYTH : The State Department has issued a Travel Warning for Israel

FACT: For the past dozen years, the State Department has had a standard advisory regarding Israel. It is periodically updated.

MYTH : The State Department has ordered all Americans to leave Israel.

FACT: No one has been ordered to leave Israel. The borders remain open and tourist continue to enjoy the sights.

MYTH : There are frequent bombings in Israel

FACT: There are only a few bombings per year in Israel, but they all make the nightly national news here. Meanwhile in the good old USA, we had over 1500 bombings in 1995 (last  year FBI figures are available) which killed 168 persons and injured 518. Few of these bombings made it to the nightly national news.

The top ten bombing states for 1995 were: California with 467 bombings; Illinois with 243 bombings; Florida with 222 bombings; Texas with 134 bombings; Arizona with 112 bombings; Michigan with 104 bombings; Ohio with 102 bombings; Maryland with 88 bombings; Minnesota with 80 bombings; New York with 76 bombings.

What ETS will do if the State Department Forbids Travel to Israel:

At this time, we have no plans to cancel our Holy Land trips scheduled this winter. However, if the State Department forbids Americans to travel to Israel, ETS will cancel the trip. We would give the groups already in Israel the option of returning home or continuing with their journey. When the Gulf War began in 1991, all our groups which were in Israel decided to stay and complete their journey, including those with extensions to Egypt.

If the State Department forbids Americans to travel to Israel, ETS will cancel the trip.

 1) Those already in Israel can choose to return home or continue their journey

 2) Those who have not yet departed can do one of the following:

  a) transfer their money to a later departure date (this year or next) or another destination we offer

  b) receive a refund all moneys

If You (or an Individual passenger) Cancel Your Trip:

If you decide to cancel the trip, the cancellation penalties listed from our catalog will apply.

Here is the text from our 1999 catalog:

From the day of registration to  60 days prior to departure, any nonrefundable airline penalties are the only charges. Thereafter, the following charges also apply:

   59-45 days = $200;

   44-31 days = 25% of total cost;

   30-15 days = 50% of total cost;

   14 days to day of departure = 100% of total cost.

In addition, cancellation fees for Luxor extensions are:

   59-31 days = 25% of extension cost;

   30-0 days = 100%

For More Information on Safety and Security:

Call us (1-800-929-5327 ext 590) for a copy of the flyer "Will We Be Safe?" The flyer will help put risks of overseas travel and the risks we face everyday into perspective.

The Final Analysis:

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, commented recently that Israel remains a safe place to live and visit. In the final analysis, no one can guarantee total safety, not even your church, doctor or dentist. However, Israel is as safe or safer than most large cities in the USA. And, as we have learned in recent years, terrorism happens even in this country.

We do understand your concerns regarding the Middle East situation.  We take these concerns as seriously as you.

We hope this information will help you as you prepare for your journey.

Sincerely,

ETS