The Philippines was one of the few countries in the world to unreservedly open its doors to Jews fleeing Europe during World War II.
existing ties between the two countries. Durano met with the Tourism Ministry Director General Noaz Bar-Nir and other senior Tourism Ministry representatives on Monday. He will also visit several tourist sites around the country in coming days.On Sunday, the Philippines Foreign Minister was in Rishon LeTzion to officially inaugurate a memorial dedicated to Philippines citizens who aided Jews during the Holocaust. The Philippines was one of the few countries in the world to unreservedly open its doors to Jews fleeing Europe during World War II. Over 1,200 Jews found refuge there until the Japanese occupation of the islands. Interestingly, the Japanese did not differentiate between German and Austrian Jews and other Germans or Austrians, thus leaving them free to assist their brethren who were placed in a concentration camp with the other nationals of states at war with Japan.
Durano and Israeli officials will be exchanging information on tourism matters, including tourism management during times of crisis and developing rural tourism. Bar-Nir and other senior ministry representatives are presenting their Philippines guest with an introduction to the Israel tourism industry, including a study of the way Israel has dealt with various crises during and after periods of armed conflict. The minister was told about the compensation procedures Israel has in place for compensating tourism industry representatives and entrepreneurs affected by such armed conflict.
Also of common interest between the two countries are issues of image and marketing campaigns during the global economic crisis, and the development of rural tourism in various regions in Israel that are similar in characteristics to those in the Philippines.
Tourism Ministry Director-General Bar-Nir commented on the official visit from the Philippines, "The Israeli tourism industry offers an example of how to cope successfully with and subsequently recover quickly from crisis situations. I am pleased to contribute some of this knowledge in this area as well to countries that find themselves in similar situations. Many countries are expressing an interest in the unique and attractive rural tourism in Israel and I hope that this visit will advance cooperation in tourism between our two countries."
The number of tourists visiting Israel from the Philippines is relatively small, with the peak being in the year 2000, when 14,000 visited. About 8,000 tourists visited Israel last year from the Philippines. However, there are are about 60,000 Filipinos working in Israel, mostly in the home care and healthcare services industry. There are about 200 Jews living in the Philippines today.
Other Common Issues
In a less pleasant field than tourism, Israel and the Philippines have other commonalities. The southern Philippines has been plagued by Islamic fundamentalist and separatist terrorism for thirty years.
In recent clashes over the weekend, 14 terrorists were killed and 22 other people injured in separate clashes with government forces. Among the dead were four members of the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Abu Sayyaf group, while two soldiers were wounded. Ten terrorists from the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front were killed in separate clashes.
The Philippines army says that over 100 jihadist and separatist terrorists have been killed in battles with security forces in Sulu and Mindanao in recent months.