Minister Isaac Herzog
צילום: דורון גולן
Tourism 2007: Urgent int'l campaign needed
Israel Hotel Association president calls for immediate allocation of USD 50 million to save industry, fund campaign to promote Israel abroad; says association sustained loss of one billion dollar in 2006
The president of the Israel Hotel Association (IHA), Eli Gonen, demanded at a press conference Monday that USD 50 million be allocated to the Ministry of Tourism immediately, and warned that if the money is not transferred soon, the tourism industry will face a grim future in 2007.
While the first half of 2006 seemed to bring good tidings to the tourism industry in Israel, the war in Lebanon this summer disrupted all plans. Only 1.8 million tourists entered Israel this year, compared to a forecast of 2.4 million people.
According to IHA estimates, Israel sustained a one billion dollar loss in 2006, with revenues standing at USD 3.4 billion, in contrast to a USD 4.4 billion forecast.
Gonen called on the government to implement the recommendations of an Ernst and Young report on the tourism industry in Israel, which stated that USD 50 million per year should be invested in the next five years in a long-term campaign aimed at changing Israel's image in the world.
The hoteliers also demanded that an independent tourism authority be formed to handle marketing of tourism in Israel abroad.
The Tourism Ministry said in response that Minister Isaac Herzog and his office's management see eye to eye with the IHA on the issue of funding.
"The ministry has demanded of the government and the Finance Ministry a multi-annual budget of USD 250 million for the next five years," a spokesperson at the Ministry stated.
