The Tourism Ministry has announced a new campaign to increase tourism from abroad, targeted at both Jews and Christian friends of Israel. The campaign emphasizes that with the improved security situation in Israel and throughout the Middle East, "Now is the time to visit Israel." Kicking off the new campaign, Tourism Minister Benny Elon said, "The challenge facing us now is to go from survival to renewed growth in the industry."
As part of its efforts to return to a prominent position in the tourism world, the Ministry of Tourism has also begun a new program of "registering" all those who wish to keep up a connection with the State of Israel. The five-week old program begins with the arrival of each tourist, when s/he receives a certificate of recognition on behalf of the Tourism Ministry, and is asked for feedback and whether s/he would like to maintain contact with the State of Israel. "We hope to enlist many supporters of Israel in this manner," said senior Tourism Ministry Deputy Director Rafi Ben-Hur.
The efforts also bear fruit: Some 70 leading rabbis from Europe arrived this week in Israel to take part in a solidarity convention with the State of Israel. The organization decided to hold its annual conference in Jerusalem this year, and invited Tourism Minister Benny Elon - a former yeshiva dean - to address them. He called upon them to continue to remind their congregants of the importance of visiting in Israel. Tourism Ministry Director-General Aharon Domb attended last year's convention in Belgium, and asked the rabbis to help in bringing tourists to Israel - which, Domb notes, they did satisfactorily.
As part of its efforts to return to a prominent position in the tourism world, the Ministry of Tourism has also begun a new program of "registering" all those who wish to keep up a connection with the State of Israel. The five-week old program begins with the arrival of each tourist, when s/he receives a certificate of recognition on behalf of the Tourism Ministry, and is asked for feedback and whether s/he would like to maintain contact with the State of Israel. "We hope to enlist many supporters of Israel in this manner," said senior Tourism Ministry Deputy Director Rafi Ben-Hur.
The efforts also bear fruit: Some 70 leading rabbis from Europe arrived this week in Israel to take part in a solidarity convention with the State of Israel. The organization decided to hold its annual conference in Jerusalem this year, and invited Tourism Minister Benny Elon - a former yeshiva dean - to address them. He called upon them to continue to remind their congregants of the importance of visiting in Israel. Tourism Ministry Director-General Aharon Domb attended last year's convention in Belgium, and asked the rabbis to help in bringing tourists to Israel - which, Domb notes, they did satisfactorily.