China and Israel flags. Photo: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

JNS.org –  With Chinese tourism to Israel increasing, the Jewish state’s Ministry of Tourism is looking to university students to fill its lack of Chinese-speaking tour guides.

The ministry is offering a nearly $4,000 grant to each undergraduate or graduate student of East Asia Studies who undergoes the rigorous tour-guide course and becomes licensed to lead Chinese groups.

Israel has made significant investments to encourage the rising trend of incoming Chinese tourism, such as approving numerous entry visas and cancelling group visa fees.

Israel’s Tourism Ministry reports that tourism from China grew 43 percent from 2014 to 2015. It estimates that 100,000 residents of China will visit Israel by 2018.