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It's been a year since Israel became a destination for Chinese tourists. Israeli Tourism Ministry is speeding up their efforts to explore the new market.

Pini Shani from the Israeli ministry of tourism told CRI that they are expecting the number of Chinese tourists to be doubled in the year 2010 after they opened an office in Beijing half a year ago to fully promote Israeli tourist resources.

"We hope that 2010 will be actually the first full year that will allow us to promote Israel properly in China. We are expecting to see an increase from China, we hope to double the figure from China to Israel next year to reach 20 thousand. And we are convinced that's only the beginning."

Specific tourist sites are taking their own steps. If you have a chance to travel the Middle East, one place that you can't miss is the Dead Sea, one of the world's natural wonders. The local government of the Dead Sea region is translating its website into Chinese.

Yaacov Akrish is the Dead Sea regional council's tourism manager.

"In the website we have all kinds of information. About the region, the hotels, about the benefits of staying here at the Dead Sea. All this information will be in Chinese. And of course there will be an opportunity to ask questions and get answers."

To add another spot of fun and elegance to the yellow and blue scenery of the mountains and the Dead Sea, an opera week will take place every June at the footsteps of Mount Masada, an ancient fortress symbolizing the heroism and survival of the Jewish people. Next year's debut performances will include Verdi's master piece Nabucco, which tells about the lives of Jewish slaves in Babylon, and a concert by famous American opera singer Jessye Norman, as well as other sunrise concerts on the mountain's top.

Still half a year till then, the 18 thousand tickets for the 3 main performances have almost been sold out, among which 3 thousand are purchased by tourists abroad. Here's Michael Ajzenstadt, artistic director of the Israeli Opera, talking about how they have been looking for an ideal place for out-door operas in Israel.

"There have been several attempts in the past, but we really want a site that would be meaningful. There isn't a site which is more meaningful to the history of the Jewish people than Masada here by the Dead Sea. And we are very excited to do Nabucco, a Jewish oriented opera by Verdi."

He said that the successful box office has encouraged them to perform every year at the new outdoor opera house at Masada. In 2010, a Chinese opera singer will join them in the opera Aida, a comparatively well-known piece for Chinese audiences.

Xiaoyu, CRI news, Dead Sea.