Economy and Tourism

TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV: “OPERATIONAL STEPS WILL BE TAKEN WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO RETURN INCOMING TOURISM TO ITS PATH OF STEADY GROWTH OF THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE SCOPE OF THE DAMAGE TO THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT BUT REHABILITATING TOURISM AND ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS IN THE SOUTH ONCE AGAIN HAVE INCOME IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VICTORY AND IS A NATIONAL MISSION”
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov, Tourism Minister Director-General Noaz Bar Nir and senior representatives from the ministry met Thursday (22 November 2012) with tourism industry leaders in an initiative of the Federation of Israeli Tourist Organizations chaired by Michael Federmann to formulate a plan to rehabilitate tourism and to ensure a return to normal in the industry.
 
Damage Assessment and the Potential for Rehabilitation:
Tourism industry representatives at the meeting reported cancellation rates of between 10-20% on average and a slow-down on future reservations. The damage has also been felt in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and even in other regions across the country. Tourism industry representatives said that the damage could be minimized and it was estimated that the potential for rehabilitation is large in relation to other crises the industry has dealt with.The representatives stressed the urgency in implementing rehabilitative actions because, with the tourism industry unlike others, it is impossible to get back a large part of that which was lost. They also said that showing life returning to normal is most important in returning the flow of incoming tourism to Israel. The Federation of Israeli Tourist Organizations has taken upon itself the work of contacting those organizations which have made cancelations in order to persuade them to reverse their decisions.
As regards airlines flying in to Israel, it would appear, to date, that the damage is short-term only and that there were not many long-term cancellations. No scheduled airline canceled incoming flights and only a few charter flights were canceled.
 
The Tour Guides Association recommended sending tour guide representatives, with the assistance of the Incoming Tour Operators’ Association, to meet with groups overseas who are planning to visit Israel within the next few months in order to explain the situation.
It was agreed that the urgent activities obligate the inclusion and participation of all the relevant bodies in the tourism industry and the government.
 
Decisions include:
To concentrate the marketing activities on the next three months, especially among the end-users, i.e. the tourists themselves and to increase marketing campaigns in the leading source countries for incoming tourism - USA, Russia and various European countries. It should be noted that a major tourism campaign is scheduled to launch very soon in Russia, as well as a campaign targeted to the Evangelical market in the USA.
To increase assistance and incentives to incoming tourism operators and aviation companies – the Tourism Minister sent a letter to the Finance Minister requesting additional budgets in order to offer a safety net for the next four weeks to charter operators flying into Eilat, in order to avoid cancellations and the irreversible damage that would cause to the winter season. This request was submitted to the Finance Ministry after the budget has effectively been closed.  
To expand activities in the digital sphere: to initiate and distribute photos of tourists in Israel showing that life has returned to normal. A video testimonial is currently being produced, in cooperation with the Tel Aviv municipality. Tourists visiting the sites in Jerusalem will also be photographed.
A marketing campaign directed at domestic tourism, primarily in the south, in addition to offering attractive deals for Israelis.
The Tourism Ministry is investigating the possibility of increasing the marketing fund that will finance, among others, sending tour guides overseas to meet with tour groups scheduled to visit Israel in the next few months and to encourage their arrival and avoid cancellations.  
The Tourism Ministry Director-General sent a letter to the Civil Service Commission and other bodies in the private and public sector urging them to give preference to the south when scheduling professional conferences and seminars
To work in the diplomatic arena to remove travel warnings
To increase the hosting of decision-makers from overseas in order to underline that life is returning to normal
Tourism Minister Director-General Noaz Bar-Nir said that the ministry would investigate the recommendations and formulate a plan within the next few days.